Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.
Records
Bill· HRH.R. 2274 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Highway System Title II: Highway Funding Restoration Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 - Title I: National Highway System - Designates the National Highway System (NHS) as submitted by the Secretary of Transportation on September 1, 1995. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to submit to specified congressional committees for approval a proposed modification of the NHS, subject to specified requirements, which shall take effect only if a law has been enacted approving such modification. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) initial proposed modifications to the NHS; and (2) congressional high priority corridors. (Sec. 102) Prohibits the Secretary from apportioning or allocating, prior to August 1, 1997, any funds authorized to be appropriated or made available for FY 1997 under specified Federal highway provisions, including the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, or provisions relating to the State High Priority Project Restoration Program (see Title II). Requires the Secretary, for purposes of determining minimum allocations, to treat certain apportionments and allocations as having been made on October 1, 1996. Prohibits the obligation of amounts made available in FY 1997 at a rate higher than the historical rate of obligation of such funds. (Sec. 103) Prohibits the Secretary from apportioning or allocating, prior to August 1, 1997, Federal transit funds (other than administrative expenses) authorized to be appropriated or made available for FY 1997. Provides that certain transit funds appropriated after this Act's enactment may not be obligated before August 1, 1997. Title II: Highway Funding Restoration - Highway Funding Restoration Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary to allocate among the States specified amounts for Interstate highway substitute, NHS, surface transportation program, Interstate, congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, bridge, hazard elimination, and rail-highway crossings projects (State High Priority Project Restoration Program, hereinafter referred to as the High Priority Program) for FY 1996 and 1997. Specifies allocation percentages by State. Provides that such allocations shall not affect a State's minimum allocation of Federal-aid highway funds or specified allocations under ISTEA. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the period of availability of such allocations; (2) a special rule for the obligation of allocations in urbanized areas of over 200,000; and (3) limits on planning expenditures. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 204) Rescinds funds from various previously authorized projects and from unobligated balances of funds previously made available and derived from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Reduces the authorized funding levels for certain programs (regarding magnetic levitation and highway safety) funded from the HTF for FY 1996 and 1997. Transfers certain funds (regarding the Congestion Pricing Pilot Program) derived from the HTF made available for such fiscal years to carry out the High Priority Program. (Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary: (1) to notify each State of the total amount of the reduction in authorized funds for FY 1996 that would have been allocated and apportioned to such State as a result of specified ISTEA provisions; and (2) in determining such amount, to deduct the amount allocated to each State in FY 1996 pursuant to the High Priority Program and certain other amounts available for FY 1996. Requires: (1) each State to designate on or before November 1, 1995, or as soon as possible thereafter, unobligated balances of funds apportioned or allocated on or before September 30, 1995, and which are subject to the obligation ceiling, that may be made available for any purpose currently eligible under the Minimum Allocation Program; and (2) the Secretary to make such funds available to the States before November 15, 1995, or as soon as possible thereafter. Prohibits unobligated balances of funds attributed to urbanized areas with a population of over 200,000 from being designated by the State without the concurrence, in writing, of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) designated for such area. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) congestion mitigation and air quality balances; (2) Interstate construction balances; (3) periods of availability; and (4) limits on statutory construction. (Sec. 206) Revises provisions regarding the method of distribution of funds made available under the Minimum Allocation Program in FY 1996 and 1997. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) a special rule for urbanized areas of over 200,000; and (2) funding. (Sec. 207) Prohibits the Secretary from penalizing States for failure to implement various highway and transportation management systems during FY 1996. Repeals a requirement that States meet minimum utilization requirements for asphalt pavement containing recycled rubber and the penalties for failure to meet those requirements. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to distribute any limitation otherwise imposed on transit operating assistance so that each urbanized area that had a population of less than 200,000 under the 1990 decennial census will receive for FY 1996 75 percent of the amount the area received under such distribution for FY 1995. Requires the Secretary, in the distribution of such limitation to urbanized areas that had a population under such census of one million or more, to direct each such area to give priority consideration to the impact of reductions in operating assistance on smaller transit authorities operating within the area and to consider the needs and resources of such authorities when the limitation is distributed among all transit authorities operating in the area. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to: (1) require each recipient of Federal financial assistance for a highway or transit project with an estimated total cost of $1 billion or more to submit to the Secretary an annual financial plan, which shall be based on detailed annual estimates of the cost to complete the remaining elements of the project and on reasonable assumptions (as determined by the Secretary) of future increases in the cost to complete the project; (2) make a recommendation to the Congress on whether or not future Federal assistance should be withheld regarding any such project for which an annual financial plan is not submitted or for which the Secretary determines that the estimates or assumptions are not reasonable; and (3) submit to the Congress an annual report on the financial plans submitted and any such recommendation. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation, after this Act's enactment and before the date on which Federal-aid highway and transit programs are reauthorized, from issuing a letter of intent or entering into a full financing grant agreement or early systems work agreement for a project or operable segment of a project unless the full amount of Federal financial responsibility for the project or segment has been included in an authorization law. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to any project: (1) for which a letter of intent was issued before this Act's enactment date; and (2) included as an element of an interrelated project which also includes another project for which a letter of intent was issued before such date. (Sec. 304) Requires an annual report on Capital Projects for Fixed Guideway Systems and Extensions of Existing Fixed Guideway Systems to include: (1) an analysis of potential funding requirements of the project in the succeeding five fiscal years; and (2) a description of the planning and study process undertaken to select the locally preferred alternative and of efforts undertaken to seek alternative funding sources for the project. (Sec. 305) Repeals the authorization for the Long Beach Metro Link Fixed Rail Project. Reduces the authorization for the Honolulu Rapid Transit Project. (Sec. 306) Modifies various previously authorized transit projects and makes funds available for certain additional projects. (Sec. 307) Adds consideration of recreational travel and tourism to the metropolitan planning process under the transit program. (Sec. 308) Requires that any contract or subcontract awarded for engineering and design services, whether funded in whole or in part with Federal transit funds, be performed and audited in compliance with cost principles contained in the Federal acquisition regulations. Requires the recipient of Federal funds to: (1) accept and use indirect cost rates established by a government agency in accordance with such regulations for one-year applicable accounting periods in estimating, negotiating, and administering contracts; (2) notify affected firms before requesting and using the cost and rate data; and (3) keep such data confidential. Makes this section effective two years after this Act's enactment, but grants a State the option of adopting by statute an alternative process intended to promote engineering and design quality and to ensure maximum competition by professional companies of all sizes providing engineering and design services. (Sec. 309) Revises the formula for State expenditures on intercity bus transportation and includes among eligible activities the purchase of accessibility devices. Directs the Secretary to make capital grants to operators of intercity bus transportation systems to support such systems, including the purchase of such devices. (Sec. 310) Specifies that the hiring of law enforcement or security personnel is an eligible expense under the transit security program. Allows half of the publicly funded ferry boat service provided to the City of Avalon, California, to be counted under the formula grant transit program. (Sec. 311) Amends the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 to require that accessibility requirements for private over-the-road buses be met by small providers within three years, and by other providers within two years, after the issuance of final regulations. (Sec. 312) Makes the Alaska Railroad eligible for certain fixed guideway modernization funds for improvements to its passenger operations. (Sec. 313) Amends Federal transportation law to authorize (current law requires) preemployment alcohol testing of: (1) mass transit, railroad, air carrier, and Federal Aviation Administration employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions; and (2) operators of commercial motor vehicles. (Sec. 314) Provides that a State shall be treated as having met the requirement of having a statewide program for roadside sobriety checkpoints if such a program would violate the constitution of the State and if the State meets certain other safety requirements. Moves from the Supplemental Grants Program to the Basic Grants Program the requirement that a State provide that any person under age 21 with a blood alcohol concentration of .02 percent or greater when driving a motor vehicle shall be deemed to be driving while intoxicated. (Sec. 315) Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a study of technologies and practices to improve the driving performance of older drivers and other special driver groups; (2) undertake demonstration activities which incorporate and build upon gerontology research related to the study of the normal aging process, and initially implement such activities in States with the highest population of aging citizens for whom driving a motor vehicle is their primary mobility mode; and (3) carry out the study by entering into a cooperative agreement with an institution that has demonstrated competencies in specified fields. Requires the Secretary: (1) in carrying out the work zone safety program under ISTEA, to utilize a variety of methods to increase safety at highway construction sites, including conferences, creation of a national clearinghouse, and a national promotional campaign; and (2) to conduct a study to develop and evaluate radio and microwave technology for a motor vehicle safety warning system in furtherance of safety in all types of motor vehicles and determine whether such technology has other appropriate safety applications. (Sec. 316) Amends ISTEA to extend until the reauthorization of the Federal-aid highway and transit programs a temporary waiver from axle weight limitations for any vehicle regularly and exclusively used as an intrastate public agency transit passenger bus. (Sec. 317) Freezes funding allocations under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) at the FY 1994 levels for the remaining years of ISTEA and provides that CMAQ funds may be used for projects for the maintenance of air quality standards. Provides that certain funding equity provisions will not be affected by this section. (Sec. 318) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to require States to conduct an analysis of the life-cycle costs of, and carry out a value engineering analysis for, all projects on the NHS with an estimated total cost of $25 million or more. (Sec. 319) Specifies that transportation conformity requirements only apply to areas that are designated as nonattainment areas and to areas that have been designated as attainment areas but that are still subject to maintenance requirements under the Clean Air Act. (Sec. 320) Sets forth provisions regarding contracting for engineering and design services funded in whole or in part with Federal-aid highway funds (analogous to provisions under Sec. 308). Repeals a pilot program under ISTEA for uniform audit procedures. (Sec. 321) Exempts certain specialized vehicles operating on the 104-mile portion of Wisconsin State Route 78 and U.S. Route 51 from vehicle weight limitations upon the inclusion of the route as part of the Interstate System. (Sec. 322) Includes the Centennial Bridge, Rock Island, Illinois, under provisions relating to toll agreements. (Sec. 323) Prohibits the Secretary, before September 30, 1997, from requiring the States to expend any Federal or State funds to construct, erect, or otherwise place, or modify a highway sign relating to any speed limit, distance, or other measurement using the metric system. (Sec. 324) Specifies that the Federal ban on outdoor advertising on scenic highways does not restrict the authority of a State with respect to commercial and industrial areas along a scenic byway, nor does it prevent a State from establishing standards stricter than those in Federal law. (Sec. 325) Adds recreational travel and tourism to the factors that must be considered by MPOs in developing transportation plans and programs. (Sec. 326) Allows any non-Federal funds expended for the seismic retrofit of certain toll bridges to be credited toward the non-Federal share required as a condition of receipt of Federal funds for such retrofit made available after the date of the expenditure. (Sec. 327) Specifies that data collected for safety reports or surveys shall not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in Federal or State court proceedings. (Sec. 328) Revises the National Recreational Trails Program under ISTEA, including a provision requiring States to provide 20 percent of the program costs in the sixth year of the program. Requires a State to give priority to projects which mitigate and minimize impacts to the environment. Permits a State to apply to the Secretary for an exemption from requirements for the distribution of Federal trail program funds. (Sec. 329) Revises ISTEA regarding the routing of certain existing high priority corridors and adds additional high priority corridors. Designates certain of these routes as future Interstate routes, if they are not already designated, when the Secretary determines that such routes meet Interstate standards and connect to an existing Interstate segment. (Sec. 330) Amends ISTEA to authorize a feasibility study to identify routes that will expedite future emergency evacuations of coastal areas of Louisiana. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a route for the East-West Transamerica Corridor in West Virginia and Virginia. (Sec. 333) Delineates the route of the East-West Transamerica High Priority Corridor. (Sec. 340) Amends the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to make the High Street to Causeway Street section of an existing project eligible for Interstate construction funds. Makes certain revisions to the Interstate 95 and Pennsylvania Turnpike project authorized by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. Prohibits the use of Federal funds to construct Type II noise barriers, other than for projects already approved. (Sec. 341) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement modifying an existing agreement that provides Orange County, California with a line of credit. Allows the Secretary to require an interest rate higher than that previously specified. (Sec. 342) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study: (1) and report to the Congress on the adequacy of and the need for improvements to the Pan American Highway; and (2) to determine the cost, need, and efficacy of establishing a highway sign for identifying routes on the NHS. (Sec. 343) Provides that tolls collected for motor vehicles on any bridge connecting the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York, shall continue to be collected for only those vehicles exiting from such bridge in Staten Island. (Sec. 344) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the National Driver Register.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 216 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1995
Sets forth the modified open rule for the consideration of H.R. 1655 (intelligence and intelligence-related activities funding).
Bill· SS. 1216 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Compassion Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $500 tax credit for each eligible individual to a taxpayer who provides qualified home care services to certain needy individuals.
Bill· SS. 1212 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Assets for Independence Act - Provides for the establishment of demonstration projects designed to determine: (1) the social, civic, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals and families with limited means an incentive to accumulate assets; (2) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy that promotes saving for education, homeownership, and microenterprises may be used to enable individuals and families with low income to achieve economic self-sufficiency; and (3) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy improves the community in which participating individuals and families live. Requires each qualified not-for-profit organization or State or local government agency receiving a grant to establish a Reserve Fund. Makes an individual eligible for assistance under a demonstration project if such individual is a member of a household that meets certain income and net worth tests. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for contributions made to an individual development account by or on behalf of a qualified individual to pay qualified expenses of such individual. Limits such contributions to $2,000 per year. Defines qualified expenses as those for: (1) postsecondary educational expenses; (2) a first-home purchase; and (3) business capitalization. Excludes distributions from such an account for such purposes from gross income. Makes such accounts exempt from tax, except the tax on unrelated business income of charitable, etc. organizations. Disregards funds in an individual development account of a demonstration project participant for purposes of all means-tested Federal programs.
Bill· SS. 1208 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Family Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace current provisions allowing an earned income tax credit with provisions allowing an earned income credit for an eligible individual and for an eligible married individual. Mandates inflation increases. Defines "eligible individual," for earned income credit (EIC) provisions, to exclude any individual who does not include on his or her return their taxpayer identification number (TIN) and, if married, the TIN of their spouse. Adds to the definition of "mathematical or clerical error," for provisions relating to restrictions applicable to deficiencies and petitions to Tax Court, references to omission of a TIN required by provisions relating to credit for families with younger children or to the EIC. Removes individuals without children from eligibility for the EIC. Adds to the types of income that, if their aggregate exceeds a specified amount, will deny EIC: (1) capital gain net income; (2) certain income from passive activities; and (3) amounts includible in gross income under provisions relating to beneficiaries of estates and trusts. Lowers the aggregate limit. Modifies the definition of adjusted gross income for purposes of the maximum limit on EIC. Mandates a study and report to specified congressional committees on the Federal tax treatment of child support payments to determine whether changes are necessary. Prohibits considering EIC as an allowable credit, for provisions requiring that excess credits be considered overpayments, unless the EIC can be verified by comparing it with information returns filed by employees of the individual claiming the credit or with self-employment returns. Applies this paragraph to any advanced payment of the EIC under specified provisions. Mandates a study and report to specified congressional committees on the delays (if any) that would result in the processing of Federal income tax returns because of the amendment made by this paragraph. Prohibits approving the application of any person to be an electronic return originator unless the applicant provides fingerprints and credit information. Applies these requirements to originators whose applications were approved before enactment of this Act.
Bill· SS. 1206 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Adoption Assistance Title II: Adoption Assistance for Federal Employees Title III: Exclusion of Adoption Assistance Adoption Assistance Act - Title I: General Adoption Assistance - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 for qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year. Provides a limitation based on modified adjusted gross income. Title II: Adoption Assistance for Federal Employees - Requires the head of each agency to establish a program under which any employee of such agency (including a Postal Service employee) who adopts a child shall be provided a limited reimbursement for adoption expenses. Prohibits denial of an application for reimbursement on the basis of the marital status of the individual. Title III: Exclusion of Adoption Assistance - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income employee or military adoption assistance benefits received by an employee for adoption assistance.
Bill· HRH.R. 2261 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Lobbying Disclosure Title II: Congressional Gift Rules Title I: Lobbying Disclosure - Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 - Requires registration with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives by any individual lobbyist (or the individual's employer, if it employs one or more lobbyists) within 45 days after the individual first makes, or is employed or retained to make, a lobbying contact with either the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress, or any other specified Federal officer or employee. Defines a lobbyist as any individual employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation for services that include one or more lobbying contacts (but not an individual whose lobbying activities constitute less than twenty percent of the time engaged in the services provided to that client). Provides for: (1) special registration filing rules in cases involving multiple clients and contacts; and (2) registration termination in cases where a registrant is no longer employed or retained by a client to conduct lobbying activities, and does not anticipate any additional lobbying activities for such client. (Sec. 104) Specifies registration contents. Exempts from such registration requirements in cases involving lobbying income of $5,000 or less (for a particular client) or total expenses of $20,000 or less (for all lobbying activities) (adjusted periodically for inflation). (Sec. 105) Requires registrants to file semiannual lobbying activity reports. Permits tax-exempt charitable organizations required to report lobbying expenses by the Internal Revenue Code to satisfy such requirements by filing a copy of a certain required Internal Revenue Service form. (Sec. 106) Details the responsibilities of the Secretary and the Clerk with respect to disclosure and enforcement. (Sec. 107) Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. (Sec. 109) Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to: (1) eliminate references to political propaganda and, in certain cases, replace them with references to informational materials; and (2) modify registration exemption provisions. (Sec. 110) Revises (Byrd Amendment) requirements for a declaration by persons requesting or receiving a Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement with respect to any payments made in connection with it which would be prohibited if made with appropriated funds. Requires, in lieu of information currently required, the: (1) name of any registrant under this Act who has made lobbying contacts on behalf of the person with respect to that Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement; and (2) certification that the declarant has not made, and will not make, any prohibited payment. (Sec. 111) Repeals: (1) the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act; and (2) provisions on lobbyist activities of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act and the Housing Act of 1949. (Sec. 113) Sets forth special rules for the identification of: (1) foreign and other clients on whose behalf lobbying contacts are made with a covered legislative or executive branch official; and (2) such covered officials. (Sec. 114) Permits tax-exempt charitable organizations required to report lobbying expenses by the Internal Revenue Code to report, under this Act, only good faith estimates of such expenses in order to meet specified criteria for exemption from the reporting requirements of this Act. Permits entities for which deduction of lobbying and political expenditures is denied also to make good faith estimates of such expenditures. Requires any registrant electing to make such estimates to so inform the Secretary and the Clerk. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on differences in meaning between this Act and the Internal Revenue Code of "lobbying activities," "lobbying expenditures," "influencing legislation," and related terms. Title II: Congressional Gift Rules - Makes conforming amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives with regard to restrictions on gifts by lobbyists and foreign agents to covered subjects.
Bill· HRH.R. 2268 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 - Requires registration with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives (appropriate congressional officials) by any individual lobbyist (or the individual's employer if it employs one or more lobbyists) within 45 days after the individual first makes, or is employed or retained to make, a lobbying contact with either the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress, or any other specified Federal officer or employee, including certain high-ranking members of the uniformed services. Defines a lobbyist as any individual employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation for services that include more than one lobbying contact (but not an individual whose lobbying activities constitute less than 20 percent of the time engaged in the services provided to that client over a six-month period). (Sec. 4) Provides for: (1) special registration filing rules in cases involving multiple clients and contacts; and (2) registration termination in cases where a registrant is no longer employed or retained by a client to conduct lobbying activities and does not anticipate any additional lobbying activities for such client. Specifies the contents of such registration. Provides for exemptions from registration requirements above in cases involving lobbying income of $5,000 or less (for a particular client) or total expenses of $20,000 or less (in the case of an organization whose employees engage in lobbying activities on the organization's behalf) (adjusted periodically for inflation) for the semiannual period. (Sec. 5) Requires registrants to file semiannual lobbying activity reports with the appropriate congressional officials. Specifies the contents of such reports. (Sec. 6) Specifies various duties of the appropriate congressional officials for carrying out this Act, including reviewing registrations and reports filed under it, and making copies of them available to the public. (Sec. 7) Sets forth penalties for violations involving the requirements of this Act. (Sec. 9) Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to: (1) replace references to political propaganda with references to informational materials; and (2) add to the exemption from registration requirements under such Act for certain lawyers providing legal representation to disclosed foreign principals to apply it to such representative actions as judicial proceedings and criminal or civil law enforcement inquiries, investigations, or proceedings. Exempts from the requirements of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 any agent of a foreign government, foreign political party, or other foreign entity not organized for business that registers under this Act. (Sec. 10) Revises (Byrd Amendment) limitations on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions, removing obsolete reporting requirements, among other changes. (Sec. 11) Repeals the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act. Repeals provisions of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act and the Housing Act of 1949 relating to lobbyist activities. (Sec. 14) Sets forth special rules for the identification of: (1) foreign and other clients on whose behalf lobbying contacts are made with a covered legislative or executive branch official; and (2) such covered officials. (Sec. 15) Permits tax-exempt charitable organizations required to report lobbying expenses by the Internal Revenue Code to report, under this Act, only good faith estimates of such expenses in order to meet specified reporting (including exemption from such reporting) requirements of this Act. (Sec. 16) Amends provisions of Federal law known as the Ramspeck Act to repeal authority extending competitive status to certain legislative and judicial branch employees involuntarily separated without prejudice from their respective branch, entitling them to transfer to the competitive service in the executive branch. (Sec. 17) Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to promulgate regulations on the manner and extent that experience in a position other than a competitive one may be considered in making appointments to a competitive position. Prohibits the grant, in such regulations, of any preference based on the fact of service in the legislative or judicial branch. Directs OPM to study excepted service considerations for competitive service appointments relating to this Act. (Sec. 18) Makes certain civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, and certain local associations of employees whose net earnings are devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes, ineligible for Federal funds in any form if they engage in lobbying activities. (Sec. 19) Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to require the Attorney General to report to Congress semiannually on administrative matters (currently "from time to time") including registration filings. (Sec. 20) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: (1) augment the dollar value categories for required disclosure of income, assets, and liabilities of subject individuals, but limiting disclosure requirements for their spouses and dependent children to income, assets, and liabilities held jointly with the subject individual, and leaving unspecified any such amounts or values exceeding $1 million; and (2) require the financial disclosure reports of subject individuals to include the category of the total cash value of any interest of the reporting individual in a qualified blind trust, except under certain circumstances. (Sec. 21) Amends the Federal criminal code to apply to the Deputy United States Trade Representative (Deputy USTR) the same three-year prohibition against representing, aiding, or advising a foreign entity after leaving Government service as applies to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit any person who has directly represented, aided, or advised a foreign entity in any trade negotiation, or trade dispute, with the United States from being appointed as USTR or Deputy USTR. (Sec. 23) Expresses the sense of the Senate that lobbying expenses should not be tax deductible.
Bill· HRH.R. 2269 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Child Security Act of 1995 - Establishes a monthly child support assurance benefits program with payments made by the Secretary of Health and Human Services following prescribed guidelines. Excludes such payments from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility for: (1) housing benefits; or (2) food stamps. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to establish a national registry of child support orders whose functions shall include maintenance of abstracts of child support orders accessible by the Secretary of the Treasury. Amends Part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that child support orders are immediately transmitted to such registry, including the social security account number of each parent with rights or obligations under the order. (Sec. 4) Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prescribe child support enforcement guidelines through wage withholding and income tax collection. Establishes the Office of the Child Advocate in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist in problem resolution relating to child support enforcement by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and to advise on administrative practices and potential legislative changes. (Sec. 5) Prescribes guidelines for: (1) HHS distribution of child support payments collected by the IRS; and (2) the assignment of rights to past-due support. (Sec. 7) Instructs the Secretary to: (1) establish the National Child Support Guideline Commission to develop recommendations for uniform national child support guidelines; and (2) transmit Commission recommendations to the Congress. (Sec. 8) Amends part D of SSA title IV to require State plans to provide for the uniform termination of child support obligations after specified ages. (Sec. 9) Mandates that HHS: (1) promulgate a methodology to determine State staffing needs relating to child support enforcement; and (2) develop a plan detailing the steps that the State must take to meet such requirements. Mandates that State Medicaid plans require the operation of a State program for: (1) child support enforcement; and (2) Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC). Increases from three percent to five percent the amount deducted from Federal assistance payments as a penalty for noncompliance. (Sec. 11) Instructs the Secretary to authorize five States to conduct five-year social services demonstration projects giving priority in job opportunities and basic skills (JOBS) training programs under part F of SSA title IV to parents unable to support their children financially.
Bill· HRH.R. 2273 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Mandates compensation of Federal employees furloughed due to lapsed FY 1996 appropriations for the period of such furlough at their standard rate of compensation.
Bill· HRH.R. 2272 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Public Pension Parity Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude from gross income any amount received by an individual as a qualified governmental pension which does not exceed the maximum excludable social security benefits of the taxpayer for such year reduced by the social security benefits received during such year which were excluded from gross income; and (2) prohibit applying clause (1) to any qualified governmental pension received during the taxable year unless the taxpayer (or the spouse or former spouse of the taxpayer) performed the service giving rise to such pension. Defines the term "maximum excludable social security benefits."
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 213 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Amends rule XXVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order in the House of Representatives to consider a conference report on any bill making appropriations for the legislative branch for a fiscal year until all other regular appropriation bills for that fiscal year are enacted into law.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 99 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1995
Makes corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 1854 (legislative branch appropriations) to add provisions concerning lobbying disclosure and congressional gift rules.
Bill· SS. 1199 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit tax-exempt financing of transportation facilities used in connection with the transport of cargo to or from docks and wharves.
Bill· SS. 1144 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Concession Reform Title II: National Park Fees Title III: Ski Area Permits on National Forest System Lands Title IV: National Park System Reform Title V: Land Management Agency Housing Title VI: Disposition of Fees Title VII: National Park System Advisory Board National Park Service Enhancement Act - Title I: Concession Reform - Revises Federal law to require the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to take appropriate action to encourage and enable private persons, corporations, and other entities to provide and operate facilities and services deemed to be desirable for the accommodation of visitors in areas administered by the National Park Service (NPS). Requires (current law allows): (1) the Secretary to include in contracts for the providing of facilities and services such terms and conditions as are required to assure the concessioner of adequate protection against specified losses resulting from certain acts, policies, or decisions of the Secretary occurring after the contract has become effective; and (2) such terms and conditions to include an obligation of the United States to compensate the concessioner for loss of investment. Revises provisions regarding: (1) rates and charges (requires rates to the public to be set by the concessioner or commercial use contractor, subject to the Secretary's approval only where the Secretary determines that sufficient competition for such facilities and services does not exist within or in close proximity to the relevant park); (2) the method of determining franchise fees (requires such fees to be fixed at the time of commencement of the contract as stated in the selected proposal, requires the Secretary to determine the suggested minimum franchise fee in any prospectus in a manner that will provide the concessioner or commercial use contractor with a reasonable opportunity to realize a profit, and permits the Secretary to reduce franchise fees under a contract if such reduction is equitable under the circumstances); and (3) new or additional services (authorizes the Secretary to grant extensions, renewals, or new contracts to any present concessioners for operations substantially similar to those authorized by their current contracts or permits). Repeals provisions regarding existing renewal preferences, subject to specified limitations. Revises provisions regarding protection of the concessioner's possessory interest to provide that just compensation shall be an amount equal to the sound value of such structure, fixture, or improvement at the time of taking by the United States or expiration of the contract. Requires the concessioner, no less than 12 months before the expiration of any contract which recognizes a possessory interest, if the amount of compensation was not previously agreed between the Secretary and the concessioner, to submit to the Secretary an independent appraisal of the sound value of the structures, fixtures, or improvements in which the concessioner has an investment interest, subject to specified requirements. Sets forth provisions regarding procedures if the Secretary disagrees with the appraisal submitted. Sets forth provisions regarding the competitive selection process, contracts, and performance evaluation. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) to adopt procedures consistent with those established by this title for the NPS for issuing contracts and non-recurring commercial-nonrecreational use permits for substantially similar services and activities taking place on Federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Title II: National Park Fees - Revises provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to increase the fee for: (1) the Golden Eagle Passport (the annual admission permit for designated units of the National Park System (System) or National Conservation Areas and other specified areas) to $50; (2) annual admission into a specific designated unit of the System, or into several specific units located in a particular geographic area, to $25; and a (3) a single-visit permit at any designated area to not more than $6 per person. Makes receipts from non-Federal Golden Eagle Passport sales available for specified resource protection, rehabilitation, and conservation projects. Specifies that a lifetime admission permit for a U.S. citizen or person domiciled in the United States who is age 62 or older (Golden Age Passport) shall entitle the permittee (currently, the permittee and specified individuals accompanying him) to free admission into any area designated. Prohibits fees of any kind from being collected from persons who have a right of access for hunting or fishing privileges under a specific provision of a law or treaty or who are engaged in the conduct of official Federal, State, or local government business. Directs the Secretaries to establish procedures providing for the issuance of a lifetime admission permit to specified individuals who are permanently disabled. Limits the number of accompanying individuals, notwithstanding the method of travel. Directs the Secretary to: (1) submit to specified congressional committees a report on the admission fees proposed to be charged at specific units of the National Park System; and (2) identify areas where such fees are authorized but not collected and the reasons why such fees are not collected. Allows: (1) a charge for the use of a campground not having a majority of specified features and personal collection of the fee by an employee or agent of the Federal agency operating the facility; and (2) any National Park permit (currently, Golden Age Passport) holder to utilize special recreation facilities at a rate of 50 percent of the established use fee. Requires fees to be comparable to those charged by other public and private entities. Permits persons violating National Park rules or regulations to be fined any amount as provided by law. Revises provisions regarding: (1) the time of reimbursement; (2) charges for transportation provided by the System; and (3) commercial tour use fees. Directs the Secretary to establish reasonable fees for nonrecurring commercial or nonrecreational uses of System units that require special arrangements, including permits, which at a minimum will cover all costs of providing necessary services associated with such use, with exceptions. Permits receipts equal to the cost of providing the necessary services associated with use of an area within the System for activities which further NPS goals to be retained at the park unit in which the use takes place and to remain available to cover such costs. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to negotiate and enter into challenge cost-share agreements with any State or local government, public or private agency, corporation, individual, or other entity for the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out any authorized functions and responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to any System unit, affiliated area, or designated National Scenic or Historic Trail. (Sec. 203) Redefines or defines: (1) "park system resource" to mean any living or non-living resource that is located within the boundaries of a System unit, except for resources owned by a non-Federal entity; and (2) "marine or aquatic park system resource" to mean any living or non-living resource that is located within or is a living part of a marine or aquatic regimen within such boundaries, except for such resources. Makes any instrumentality that destroys, causes the loss of, or injures any marine or aquatic park (currently, park) system resource liable in rem to the United States for response costs and resulting damages to the same extent as a person is liable for such destruction, loss, or injury. Title III: Ski Area Permits on National Forest System Lands - Amends the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to require that the fee for all ski area permits on National Forest System lands be calculated, charged, and paid according to a specified formula in order to: (1) return fair market value to the United States and provide ski area permittees and the United States with a simplified, consistent, predictable, and equitable permit fee; (2) simplify administrative, bookkeeping, and other requirements currently imposed on the Secretary of Agriculture and ski area permittees on national forest lands; and (3) save costs associated with the calculation of ski area permit fees. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) minimum rental fees; (2) time for payment; (3) exclusion of revenue obtained outside of national forest lands; (4) transitional ski area permit fees; and (5) withdrawal of ski areas from operation of mining laws. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of ski areas on National Forest System lands to: (1) determine the feasibility and suitability of selling all or a portion of such lands to the current permittees or other interested parties; and (2) identify any continuing need for Federal retention of such lands, cost savings and revenues to the Federal Government which might accrue as a result of such sales as well as other benefits which might result from the disposal of such lands, and criteria which should be used in considering the sale of such assets. Title IV: National Park System Reform - Requires the Secretary to prepare and transmit to specified congressional committees a National Park System Plan to guide the direction of the System into the next century. (Sec. 402) Revises Federal provisions regarding the administration, findings, and purpose of the System. Directs the Secretary: (1) at the beginning of each calendar year, to submit to specified congressional committees a list of areas recommended for study for potential inclusion in the System; (2) to consider those areas that have the greatest potential to meet the established criteria of national significance, suitability, and feasibility, giving special consideration to themes, sites, and resources not already adequately represented in the System as identified in the Plan; and (3) to complete the study for each area for potential inclusion into the System within three complete fiscal years following the date of enactment of specific legislation providing for the study of such area. Directs the Secretary, in conducting the study, to consider: (1) whether the area possesses nationally significant natural or cultural resources or outstanding recreational opportunities, represents one of the most important examples of a particular resource type in the country, and is a suitable and feasible addition to the System; and (2) any additional fiscal and personnel costs if the area were added to the System. Requires the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees with the annual budget submission at the beginning of each calendar year, in numerical order of priority for addition to the System considering factors such as threats to resource values and cost escalation, a list of areas previously studied which contain primarily cultural or historical resources and a list of areas which contain primarily natural resources. Title V: Land Management Agency Housing - Authorizes the Secretaries, in order to promote recruitment and retention of qualified personnel necessary for the effective management of public lands, to: (1) make employee housing available, subject to specified limitations, on or off public lands; and (2) rent or lease such housing to employees of the respective Department at a reasonable value. Specifies that: (1) housing made available to employees on public lands shall be limited to those areas designated for administrative use; and (2) no private lands outside of the boundaries of federally administered areas may be acquired for the purposes of this title except with the owner's consent. Authorizes the Secretaries to enter into: (1) agreements with public and private entities to provide housing on or off public lands; and (2) cooperative agreements or joint ventures with local governmental and private entities, either on or off public lands, to provide utility and other infrastructure facilities in support of employee housing facilities. (Sec. 503) Directs the Secretaries to conduct a survey of the availability of quarters at field units under each Secretary's jurisdiction at least every five years. Authorizes the Secretaries, if such survey indicates that Government-owned or suitable privately-owned quarters are not available for the personnel assigned to a specific duty station, to provide suitable quarters in accordance with this title. (Sec. 504) Authorizes secondary quarters to be made available to employees, either on or off public lands, if either Secretary determines that such quarters for employees who are permanently duty stationed at remote locations and are regularly required to relocate for temporary periods are necessary for the effective administration of an area under the jurisdiction of the respective agency. Requires that rental rates for such secondary facilities be established so that the aggregate rental rate paid by an employee for both primary and secondary quarters as a percentage of the employee's annual gross income shall not exceed the Census Bureau American Housing Survey median monthly housing cost for renters, inclusive of utilities as a percentage of current income, whether paid as part of rent or paid directly to a third party. (Sec. 505) Directs the Secretaries to: (1) survey all existing Government-owned employee housing facilities under their jurisdictions to assess its physical condition and its suitability for the effective prosecution of the agency mission; (2) develop an agency-wide priority listing, by structure, identifying those units in greatest need of repair, rehabilitation, replacement, or initial construction; and (3) transmit the survey and priority listing study to specified congressional committees. Requires expenditure of any funds appropriated for construction, repair, or rehabilitation to follow, in sequential order, the priority listing. Allows funding available from other sources for employee housing repair to be distributed as determined by the Secretaries. (Sec. 506) Authorizes appropriations. Title VI: Disposition of Fees - Establishes in the Treasury a Park Improvement Fund. (Sec. 602) Requires that, beginning in FY 1996, 50 percent of all revenues received by the Government in excess of the amount that would have been received in 1995 without enactment of this Act from franchise fees, admission, special recreation, commercial tour use, and commercial-nonrecreational use fees (such fees) be covered into the Fund, with exceptions. (Sec. 603) Provides that: (1) receipts in the Fund from the previous fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary without further appropriation; (2) each fiscal year, beginning in 1997, 75 percent of the total receipts deposited in the Fund for the previous fiscal year from each unit of the System collecting such fees shall be available for expenditure only by that unit; and (3) the remaining receipts in the Fund may be allocated among such units, including those not collecting such fees, as determined by the Secretary. Directs that expenditures from the Fund be used solely for infrastructure and operational needs by System units. Requires the Secretary, by January of each year, to provide to specified congressional committees a list of proposed expenditures from the Fund for each unit for that fiscal year and a report detailing expenditures, by unit, for the previous fiscal year. Title VII: National Park System Advisory Board - Revises provisions regarding the establishment of a National Park System Advisory Board to advise the Secretary on all matters pertaining to the System. Specifies that the Board, appointed by the Secretary for a term not to exceed four years, shall be comprised of no more than nine persons from among U.S. citizens having a demonstrated commitment to the System. Requires Board members to be selected to represent various geographic regions and to ensure that the Board contains expertise in natural or cultural resource management, recreation use management, financial management, business management, and land use planning. Sets forth provisions regarding vacancies, procedures, reimbursement for travel and per diem, limits on compensation, and powers of the Board (including the authority to establish task forces). (Sec. 702) Directs the Board to: (1) conduct a review of each System unit, except for those designated as national parks, to determine whether there are management alternatives that would result in equal or better levels of resource protection, interpretation, and visitor access, use, and enjoyment; (2) review the organic legislation and history of the NPS and its units and develop criteria to guide the Congress and the Secretary in the addition of new units to the System; (3) conduct an analysis and evaluation of the current conditions and future needs of each System unit for adequate visitor service programs; (4) periodically monitor the performance evaluation process as conducted annually by the Secretary for concessioners and commercial use contractors for effectiveness and objectivity; and (5) report thereon to the Secretary and specified congressional committees. (Sec. 703) Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1177 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Long-Term Care Tax Clarification Title II: Long-Term Care Insurance Standards Title III: Financial Eligibility Standards Title IV: Asset Transfers Title V: Miscellaneous Subtitle A: Subacute Care Continuum Amendments of 1995 Subtitle B: Establishment of Program for Home and Community-Based Services for Certain Individuals with Disabilities Subtitle C: Prospective Payment System for Nursing Facilities Quality Care For Life Act of 1995 - Title I: Long-Term Care Tax Clarification - Private Long-Term Care Insurance Incentive Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) set forth definitions concerning the treatment of long-term care insurance or plans; (2) treat qualified long-term services as deductible medical care; (3) permit the offer of certain long-term care insurance contracts in certain employer (cafeteria) plans; (4) include in gross income excessive long-term care benefits; and (5) mandate that qualified long-term care insurance tax reserves be determined according to the reserve method prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Title II: Long-Term Care Insurance Standards - Long-Term Care Insurance Standards Amendments of 1995 - Directs the Congress to appoint the National Long-Term Care Insurance Advisory Council to advise it and monitor development of the long-term care insurance market. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth consumer protection provisions regarding long-term care insurance policies. Sets forth tax penalties for non-complying issuers of such policies. (Sec. 204) Declares that insurance policies deemed by a State Insurance Commissioner to be in compliance with this Act and the Internal Revenue Code shall be deemed approved for sale in any other State. (Sec. 205) Directs the National Long-Term Care Insurance Advisory Council to develop recommendations for the use of uniform language and definitions in long-term care insurance policies for approval by Congress. Title III: Financial Eligibility Standards - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to delineate the criteria for financial eligibility for nursing facility services. Directs the Secretary to provide grants for State demonstration projects to investigate the coordination of private long-term care insurance benefits and financial eligibility requirements. Title IV: Asset Transfers - Extends from 36 to 60 months the look-back period for asset transfers. Modifies the guidelines for such transfers with respect to the treatment of certain trusts. Title V: Miscellaneous - Subtitle A: Subacute Care Continuum Amendments of 1995 - Subacute Care Continuum Amendments of 1995 - Provides that the SSA shall not be construed as limiting a skilled nursing facility (SNF) from offering subacute care services. Prohibits the Secretary or the States from imposing conditions for such services which restrict SNFs from qualifying based upon their status. (Sec. 502) Instructs the Secretary, regardless of the issuance of final regulations, to: (1) grant an interim exception within 90 days of submission of a request by a SNF providing subacute care services; and (2) establish identical fee schedules for physician visits to a subacute care patient in a SNF or in a hospital. (Sec. 503) Provides coverage under the Medicare program for respiratory therapy services in a SNF. Requires the Secretary to determine and subsequently publish a list of hospital DRGs appropriate for SNFs and the appropriate hospitalizations and copayments and rebate Medicare payments which reflect the lower cost of such care provided in SNFs. (Sec. 504) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the States are encouraged to develop payment methodologies for nursing facilities which provide subacute care for Medicaid patients; and (2) Federal funding should be available for such nursing facilities. Subtitle B: Establishment of Program for Home and Community-Based Services for Certain Individuals With Disabilities - Home and Community-Based Services for Individuals with Disabilities Program Amendments of 1995 - Establishes a program which mandates that States having an approved State plan provide for home and community-based services for eligible individuals with disabilities. (Sec. 513) Increases the amount of an individual's resources which shall be disregarded when determining eligibility for inpatient nursing or intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded. Subtitle C: Prospective Payment System for Nursing Facilities - Prospective Payment System for Nursing Facilities Amendments of 1995 - Mandates that payment rates under the Prospective Payment System for Nursing Facilities reflect enumerated objectives. Declares that this Act does not affect the skilled nursing facility benefit under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA). (Sec. 527) Instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish a resident classification system which groups residents into classes according to similarity of their assessed condition and required services; and (2) determine payment rates for nursing facilities according to prescribed guidelines. (Sec. 528) Prescribes guidelines for: (1) resident assessment; (2) per diem rate for nursing service costs, administrative and general costs; (3) payment for fee-for-service ancillary services; (4) reimbursement of selected ancillary services including drugs and medical supplies; (5) the per diem rate for property costs; (6) mid-year adjustments; and (7) payment methods for new and low-volume nursing facilities. (Sec. 536) Details appeal procedures under this title.
Bill· SS. 1173 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a domestic corporation to make an irrevocable election to determine the post-1986 undistributed earnings and the post-1986 foreign income taxes of a foreign corporation (if the domestic corporation owns 80 percent or more of the foreign corporation's stock) by taking into account the earnings and profits of the foreign corporation accumulated in, and the amount of foreign income taxes paid with respect to, all periods beginning on and after the first day that percentage of stock is so owned. Regulates the time for making the election.
Bill· SS. 1165 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit for adoption expenses. Excludes from gross income amounts paid or expenses incurred by the employer for adoption, if furnished pursuant to an adoption assistance program. Imposes both dollar and income limits on both the credit and the exclusion.
Bill· SS. 1161 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt manufacturers, producers, and importers of fewer than 50 firearms per year from the firearms excise tax.
Bill· SS. 1171 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Equine Tax Fairness Act of 1995 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions limiting passive activity losses and credits to modify the definition of material participation with respect to the treatment of equine activities (breeding, racing, or showing horses).
Bill· SS. 1172 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Revenue Act of 1987 to repeal the termination date of a specified transition rule and permanently exempt from taxation as corporations certain publicly traded partnerships (master limited partnerships).
Bill· SS. 1170 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a special rule for persons with a deceased parent for purposes of the generation-skipping transfer tax. Makes such rule inapplicable to an individual who is not a lineal descendant if there is a living lineal descendant.
Bill· SS. 1160 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the depreciation rules which apply for regular tax purposes shall also apply for alternative minimum tax purposes.
Bill· SS. 1162 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude any employer-provided housing from the gross income of employees of academic health centers. Defines an "academic health center" as an organization which: (1) is a tax-exempt charitable organization providing medical care, hospital care, medical education, or medical research; (2) receives payments under the Social Security Act for either direct or indirect costs of graduate medical education; and (3) has as one of its principal functions the providing and teaching of basic and clinical medical science and research with the organization's own faculty.
Bill· SS. 1146 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify the rate of tax on draft cider containing certain percentages of alcohol. Excludes the tax from the credit for small domestic producers.
Bill· SS. 1140 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Transfer of Certain Functions to the Secretary of Transportation Title II: Establishment of United States Transportation Board and Transfer of Certain Functions to that Board Title III: Revisions to Subtitle IV of Title 49, United States Code Title IV: Additional Subtitle IV Provisions Title V: Amendments to Other Laws Title VI: Termination of the Interstate Commerce Commission Transportation Regulatory Streamlining Act of 1995 - Title I: Transfer of Certain Functions to the Secretary of Transportation - Transfers certain functions, personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, and records of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to the Secretary of Transportation. Title II: Establishment of United States Transportation Board and Transfer of Certain Functions to that Board - Amends Federal transportation law to establish the United States Transportation Board (Board) within the Department of Transportation. Sets forth the responsibilities of the Board, including jurisdiction over: (1) the rail and pipeline carrier industries; (2) intermodal water-rail or water-motor joint-rate transportation; (3) the rate charged by motor carriers and freight forwarders to individual householders for household goods moves; (4) intercarrier disputes in the intercity bus industry; and (5) resolution of issues related to rate undercharge and overcharge claims for motor carrier transportation. (Sec. 206) Requires the Board to complete a study on the authority necessary to assess and collect fees and annual charges in any fiscal year in amounts equal to all costs incurred by it in that fiscal year. Title III: Revisions to Subtitle IV of Title 49, United States Code - Amends Federal transportation law to transfer jurisdiction currently held by the ICC to the Board. Declares, among other things, that in regulating the railroad industry it is the policy of the U.S. Government to provide expeditious remedies for traffic and facilities lacking effective transportation competition. (Sec. 303) Revises, for purposes of this title, the term "carrier" to mean a pipeline carrier or a rail carrier. (Sec. 304) Declares that the remedies provided under this title are exclusive and preempt the remedies provided under any Federal or State statute. (Currently, such remedies are in addition to any other remedies provided under another law or at common law.) (Sec. 319) Requires the Board to revoke an exemption from the jurisdiction of the Board to the extent that the application of such jurisdiction to the exempt person, class, or transportation is necessary to carry out U.S. rail transportation policy. (Sec. 322) Requires the Board to establish simplified and expedited procedures for the determination of rate reasonableness cases for small shippers in which a stand-alone case presentation is impractical. (Sec. 327) Requires a rail carrier that is a party to an agreement of at least two rail carriers that relates to classifications or rules with respect to car service and car hire, or procedures for joint consideration, initiation, or establishment of them, to apply to the Board for approval of such agreement. (Sec. 329) Sets forth specified factors that the Board shall consider when determining whether a rail carrier rate is reasonable. Authorizes the Board, upon complaint of an interested party, to begin an investigation to determine whether a proposed rate increase is reasonable if such rate results in a revenue-variable cost percentage that is equal to or greater than 20 percentage points above the revenue-variable cost percentage applicable under this title. Requires the Board to set forth its reasons, giving due consideration to specified factors, when determining whether to investigate a rate increase. (Sec. 330) Authorizes the Board, on application of an interested party, to begin a proceeding to determine the lawfulness of any pipeline carrier-proposed new individual or joint rate or individual or joint classification, rule, or practice affecting a rate. (Sec. 331) Requires the Board not to consider the existence of product or geographic competition when making a determination of market dominance in proceedings to determine the lawfulness of a rail carrier rate. Revises provisions with respect to market dominance determinations. (Sec. 333) Requires a summary of each contract between one or more rail carriers and one or more purchasers for the transportation of agricultural commodities and fertilizer to be filed with the Board. (Sec. 336) Prohibits a carrier from subjecting a freight forwarder to unreasonable discrimination (charge a different rate for the same service) whether or not such forwarder is controlled by the carrier. (Sec. 342) Repeals specified current Federal law regarding: (1) payment of common carrier rates; (2) transportation of commodities manufactured or produced by a rail carrier; (3) rail carrier transportation of livestock; (4) exchange of services and limitation on use of common carriers by household goods freight forwarders; and (5) business entertainment expenses. (Sec. 343) Prohibits a carrier from providing transportation of agricultural products or fertilizer (currently, a carrier providing any transportation or service) without a tariff containing the rates, classifications, rules, and practices for such transportation. Requires such tariff to be published and filed with the Board. (Sec. 354) Requires a carrier to provide, upon request, common carrier rates and other common carrier service terms. (Sec. 358) Requires the Board to consult with the grain car council on matters within the charter of that body. (Sec. 371) Requires the Board to collect and keep open for public inspection a railway equipment register. (Sec. 377) Reduces certain filing and evidentiary hearing deadlines with respect to applications involving the merger or acquisition of railroads. (Sec. 380) Repeals specified current Federal law regarding: (1) motor carrier procedure and expedited rail carrier procedure with respect to consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control; (2) temporary operating approval for transactions involving motor and water carriers; and (3) the responsibility of the Secretary in certain transactions. (Sec. 390) Directs the Secretary to deliver to appropriate congressional committees a report on the benefits of revising the terms or applicability of the Carmack Amendment, together with any proposed legislation making those revisions, if any. (Sec. 399F) Directs the Secretary (currently, the ICC) to: (1) find a registrant as a motor carrier unfit if certain safety fitness requirements are not met; and (2) withhold registration. Title IV: Additional Subtitle IV Provisions - Subtitle A: Motor Carrier, Water Carrier, Broker, and Freight Forwarder Provisions - Declares that in order to ensure the development, coordination, and preservation of a transportation system that meets the transportation needs of the United States, it is U.S. policy to provide for the impartial regulation of motor carrier transportation and the transportation of passengers by motor carrier. (Sec. 401) Defines "carrier" to mean a motor carrier, a water carrier, and a freight carrier. Sets forth administrative provisions with respect to: (1) the powers and jurisdiction of the Secretary and the Board over motor carriers, water carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders; (2) certain requirements for rates, classifications, through routes, rules, and practices with respect to the transportation of household goods or passengers by motor carrier or transportation by water carrier; (3) procedures for resolving claims by a motor carrier of property (other than a household goods carrier) or freight forwarder with respect to unfiled, negotiated transportation rates; (4) certain motor carrier, freight forwarder, and motor carrier broker registration requirements; (5) general operation requirements with respect to motor carriers; (6) inspection of records of motor carriers and brokers; (7) reports by motor carriers, brokers, and associations; (8) security interests in motor carrier vehicles; (9) pooling or division of transportation services or earnings by motor carriers; (10) Federal jurisdiction over interstate and intrastate transportation of passengers by motor carrier and transportation by freight forwarders and brokers; (11) State and local tax discrimination against motor carrier transportation property; (12) State and local income taxation of motor carrier employees; (13) enforcement, investigations, rights, and remedies; (14) civil and criminal penalties; and (15) a Motor Carrier Financial Responsibility Information System. Title V: Amendments to Other Laws - Amends specified Federal laws to make conforming amendments. Title VI: Termination of the Interstate Commerce Commission - Declares that, upon the transfer of specified functions of the ICC to the Secretary and the Board, the ICC shall terminate. (Sec. 604) Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1134 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1995
American Family Tax Relief Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $500 for each dependent child under 18 years old. Mandates increases for inflation.
Bill· SS. 1127 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
Vancouver National Historic Reserve Act of 1995 - Establishes the Vancouver National Historic Reserve in the State of Washington. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Director of the National Park Service, and the Secretary of the Army to participate as members of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Partnership to oversee the protection, enhancement, and development of the Reserve. Requires the Partnership to: (1) act as a forum for cooperation and coordination among the member agencies; (2) minimize staffing, development, and operational costs to each member agency; (3) promote the coordinated protection, use, and interpretation of the cultural, recreational, and educational resources of the Reserve; (4) identify additional opportunities for appropriate public use and enjoyment of the Reserve; and (5) develop and coordinate implementation of the management plan, including the Pearson Airpark economic viability and mitigation plan, and an interpretive plan for the Reserve pursuant to this Act. Requires the Partnership to: (1) be comprised of a representative of each of the National Park Service, the Historic Preservation Office of the State of Washington, the Department of the Army, the city of Vancouver, and the citizens of Washington State; and (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary for review and approval a cooperative agreement, prepared with public participation, to govern the operations of the Partnership. (Sec. 8) Requires the Partnership to: (1) develop and submit a management plan for the Reserve to the Secretary for review and approval; and (2) as appropriate, submit a revised plan to the Secretary upon evaluating the progress made in implementing the original one. Allows the Partnership to enter into a memorandum of agreement with a State, a political subdivision, or a private person or organization that, at a minimum, establishes procedures for providing notice to the Partnership of actions proposed by such entity that may affect implementation of the management plan. (Sec. 9) Permits general aviation at Pearson Airpark that is permitted to be conducted on National Park Service (NPS) property on the enactment of this Act to continue after the year 2002, provided that: (1) Pearson AirField and Air Museum shall be operated by the city of Vancouver; (2) Vancouver pays the NPS a fee of $1 per year for the continued use and occupancy of the Airpark on NPS property and the appraised fair market land rental value of the portion of such property that is used for development of the Pearson Airpark Historical Museum; (3) all nonhistoric, aviation-related facilities and equipment shall be removed by Vancouver from NPS property by April 6, 2003, except those necessary for navigation and safety; (4) Vancouver shall not be compensated for historic aviation-related facilities or equipment remaining on NPS property, but shall be liable and responsible for continued use and maintenance of such facilities and equipment; (5) approval of the Secretary is required for all improvements and additions to facilities or equipment of the Air Museum located on NPS property; (6) helicopters shall not be based at Pearson Airpark except as necessary to accommodate emergency, disaster, or national security needs; and (7) the number of airworthy aircraft based at the Airpark shall be determined under the Pearson economic plan. Requires the Partnership to prepare and include in the management plan an economic viability and mitigation plan for the Pearson Airpark. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistance in preparing, developing, and implementing the management plan. (Sec. 12) Authorizes appropriations. Limits the Federal share of the costs of Partnership activities in a fiscal year to 50 percent.
Law· SS. 1124 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Army Programs Subtitle C: Navy Programs Subtitle D: Other Programs Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations Subtitle C: Missile Defense Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Depot-Level Maintenance and Repair Subtitle C: Environmental Provisions Subtitle D: Civilian Employees Subtitle E: Defense Financial Management Subtitle F: Assistance for Civilian Activities Subtitle G: Operation of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Activities Subtitle H: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Subtitle C: Military Training Student Loads Subtitle D: Authorization of Appropriations Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy Subtitle B: Matters Relating to Reserve Components Subtitle C: Uniform Code of Military Justice Subtitle D: Decorations and Awards Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Commissaries and Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Subtitle A: Health Care Services Subtitle B: TRICARE Program Subtitle C: Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities Subtitle D: Other Changes to Existing Laws Regarding Health Care Management Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters Subtitle A: Acquisition Reform Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Naval Vessels Subtitle C: Counter-Drug Activities Subtitle D: Department of Defense Education Programs Subtitle E: Cooperative Threat Reduction With States of the Former Soviet Union Subtitle F: Matters Relating to Other Nations Subtitle G: Repeal of Certain Reporting Requirements Subtitle H: Other Matters Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for the procurement of aircraft, missiles, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and for other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) reserve procurements; (3) the Defense Inspector General; (4) the chemical demilitarization program; and (5) the defense health program. Subtitle B: Army Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into multiyear procurement contracts for AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopters. (Sec. 112) States that a prohibition under a prior defense authorization Act against the procurement of military helicopters shall not apply to the obligation of funds for procurement of up to 20 AHIP Scout aircraft from funds appropriated under this title. (Sec. 113) Prohibits any funds available to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1996 from being obligated to procure Hydra 70 rockets until the Secretary of the Army submits to the Congress certain certifications with respect to technical corrections in such rocket, the costs of such corrections, and related information. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to waive such certification requirement in the national security interest. Subtitle C: Navy Programs - Earmarks funds appropriated under this Act for the final Seawolf attack submarine and the first two submarines under the New Attack Submarine (NAS) program. Earmarks funds under the FY 1997 defense authorization Act for design, advance procurement, and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) under the NAS program. Requires competition in the procurement of the Seawolf and the NAS. Prohibits certain actions in order to ensure that Electric Boat Division and Newport News Shipbuilding retain the technical competencies to construct the NAS. Limits the FY 1996-1999 expenditure of funds for the Seawolf and the NAS. Requires certain reports. (Sec. 122) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to repeal a prohibition on the backfitting of Trident submarines. (Sec. 123) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the initial and final increment funding for two Arleigh Burke class destroyers. (Sec. 124) Authorizes the Secretary to provide in the future-years defense program for split funding of construction of new naval vessels satisfying specified requirements. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to contract for the construction of a new naval vessel upon appropriation of a first increment of funding for construction of the vessel. Subtitle D: Other Programs - Prohibits FY 1996 DOD RDT&E funds from being obligated or expended for the Tier II Predator unmanned aerial vehicle program. (Sec. 132) Allows the obligation of only one-sixth of the funding for the unmanned aerial vehicle joint program office before the Secretary of the Navy must certify to the House Armed Services and Senate National Security Committees (defense committees) that such systems have been equipped with the common automatic landing and recovery system. Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the armed forces for RDT&E and for basic research and exploratory development. Subtitle B: Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations - Earmarks funds authorized under this title for specified phases of the AF117X long-range, medium attack aircraft. (Sec. 212) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to empower the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology with the responsibility for developing and testing naval mine countermeasures systems during FY 1997 through 1999. (Currently, the Director, Defense Research and Engineering has such responsibility during FY 1995 through 1999.) (Sec. 213) Allows the obligation of no more than 50 percent of the funds authorized under this title for the Tomahawk Baseline Improvement Program before the Secretary of the Navy must certify to the defense committees with respect to certain testing under the Program. (Sec. 214) Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to structure the development schedule for the Space and Missile Tracking System so as to achieve a first launch of a System satellite in FY 2001, and to attain initial operational capability of a full constellation of such satellites in FY 2003. Requires the concurrence of the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization with respect to certain decisions made under the System. Authorizes FY 1996 appropriations. (Sec. 215) Directs the Secretary to perform an analysis of the full range of precision guided munitions in production and in RDT&E. Requires a report to the Congress on the Secretary's findings. Provides funding limitations until such report is received. (Sec. 216) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for: (1) Defense Nuclear Agency funding; (2) the tunnel characterization and neutralization program; and (3) the long-term radiation tolerant microelectronics program (with a required report). (Sec. 217) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Counterproliferation Support Program. Authorizes the Secretary, in the national interest, to transfer to the Program funds otherwise made available to DOD in this Division for FY 1996. Limits to $50 million the total authorized amount of such transfers. (Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary to establish in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology a Program Office for Nonlethal Systems and Technologies to conduct RDT&E of nonlethal weapons applicable to forces engaged in both traditional and nontraditional military operations. Provides funding. (Sec. 219) Authorizes the obligation of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to DOD for FY 1996 to procure work from a federally funded research and development center named in a report from the Secretary to the defense committees. Prohibits any funding for such procurement until the report is received. Earmarks funds authorized under this title for such purpose. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the funding limitation as long as notice of, and the reasons for, such waiver are sent to the defense committees. Reduces by $90 million the total amount authorized under this title for RDT&E. (Sec. 220) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to revise the determination of States eligible for the awarding of grants under the Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. (Sec. 221) Repeals, with respect to the national defense technology and industrial base, defense reinvestment, and defense conversion programs: (1) certain definitions; (2) specified policy objectives; (3) the commercial-military integration partnerships program; (4) the regional technology alliances assistance program; (5) the Military-Civilian Integration and Technology Transfer Advisory Board; (6) the Navy Reinvestment Program; (7) the manufacturing extension programs; and (8) the defense dual-use assistance extension program. (Sec. 222) Directs the Secretary to: (1) use the manufacturing science and technology joint planning process of the directors of DOD laboratories in establishing the DOD manufacturing science and technology program; and (2) seek the participation of equipment manufacturers in the projects under such program. (Sec. 223) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to jointly submit to the Congress a report on DOD plans and programs to prepare for and respond to military and civil defense emergencies resulting from a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack on the United States. Subtitle C: Missile Defense - Missile Defense Act of 1995 - States the missile defense policy of the United States. Directs the Secretary to establish a top priority core theater missile defense (CTMD) program consisting of specified systems. Requires the Secretary to ensure that CTMD systems are interoperable and fully capable of external sensor and battle management support from defense systems of the various armed forces. Directs the Secretary to terminate the Corps Surface to Air Missile System and the Boost Phase Interceptor. Directs the Secretary to develop an affordable development plan for follow-on theater missile defense systems which: (1) leverages existing systems, technologies, and programs; and (2) focuses investments to satisfy military requirements not met by the CTMD program. Requires specified reports from the Secretary to the congressional defense (armed forces and appropriations) committees. (Sec. 235) Directs the Secretary to develop an affordable and operationally effective national missile defense (NMD) system which will attain initial operational capability by the end of 2003. Outlines NMD system requirements. Requires the: (1) development of an interim operational capability until the NMD system is in place and operational; (2) use of streamlined acquisition procedures in meeting the development and operational capability requirements of the NMD system; (3) employment of cost saving measures which do not decrease the operational effectiveness of the system or pose unacceptable technical risks; and (4) submission of a report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees on the plan for NMD deployment. (Sec. 236) Directs the Secretary to undertake an initiative to coordinate and strengthen the cruise missile defense programs, projects, and activities of the military departments and defense agencies and organizations to ensure the development and deployment of highly effective defenses against existing and future cruise missile threats. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) actions to be taken by the Secretary with respect to such initiative; and (2) submission by the Secretary to the congressional defense committees of a detailed implementation plan for carrying out the initiative. (Sec. 237) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Senate should undertake a comprehensive review of the continuing value and validity of the ABM Treaty, and recommend additional policy guidance on the future application of such Treaty; and (2) the President should cease all efforts to modify, clarify, or otherwise alter U.S. obligations under such Treaty pending the outcome of the review. Directs the Secretary to provide the Senate with a complete, unclassified version of the ABM Treaty negotiating record, authorizing the Secretary to waive the declassification requirements on a document-by-document basis. (Sec. 238) States that, until a missile or air defense system is flight- tested in an ABM-qualifying flight test, such system, upgrade, or component: (1) has not been tested in an ABM mode, for Treaty purposes; and (2) is therefore not subject to Treaty application, limitation, or obligation. Prohibits appropriated funds from being expended or obligated by any government official to apply such Treaty to RDT&E or deployment of such non-qualifying air or missile defense systems. Ceases the application of such prohibition when a system is flight tested in an ABM-qualifying manner. Requires the Secretary to annually certify to the Congress that no U.S. air or missile defense system is being constrained by the ABM Treaty in a manner inconsistent with this section. Finds that ballistic missile range and velocity parameters should be subject to the Senate's review under section 237. (Sec. 239) Requires amounts requested for activities of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in annual budget justification materials submitted to the Congress to be set forth in accordance with specified program elements. Provides the origin of funding for non-core TMD, core TMD, and battle management, control, communications, and intelligence programs. Requires each program element to include requests for amounts necessary for management and support of the programs. (Sec. 241) Repeals various missile defense provisions of specified Acts made inconsistent by this Subtitle. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the armed forces and specified agencies and activities of DOD for operation and maintenance (O&M). Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) DOD working capital and revolving funds; and (2) operation of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. (Sec. 304) Transfers a specified amount from the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund to O&M accounts for FY 1996. Subtitle B: Depot-Level Maintenance and Repair - Directs the Secretary to develop and report to the defense committees a comprehensive policy on the performance of depot-level maintenance and repair (DLMR) for DOD, with a primary objective of a ready and controlled source of technical competence and repair and maintenance capabilities necessary for national security across a full range of current and projected training and operational requirements. Repeals: (1) a current requirement that no more than 40 percent of the DOD DLMR be performed by non-Government personnel; and (2) a provision prohibiting the contracting out of DOD DLMR activities of at least $3 million without using competitive selection procedures. (Sec. 312) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend through FY 1996 the authority for aviation depots and naval shipyards to engage in defense-related production and services. Subtitle C: Environmental Provisions - Allows agreements for environmental restoration services performed by another Federal or State agency to provide for reimbursement to such agency only of the technical and scientific services obtained, with an FY 1996 reimbursement limitation of $5 million. Allows the Secretary to pay reimbursement expenses in excess of such amount after certifying to the Congress that such payment is essential for the management of the Defense Environmental Restoration Program, and 60 days have expired since such certification. Directs the Secretary to include in required annual reports the services obtained from such agencies on a reimbursable basis. (Sec. 322) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to apply its vessel discharge requirements to discharges incidental to the normal operations of a military vessel, other than sewage, unless the Secretary finds that compliance would not be in the best interests of national security. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to jointly determine the discharge incidental to the normal operation of a military vessel for which it is reasonable and practicable to require the use of a marine pollution control device in order to mitigate adverse impacts on the marine environment, and to promulgate Federal standards of performance for such devices with respect to the discharge. Provides time limits for initial determinations and final standards. Preempts a State or political jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing such standards for a military vessel after final Federal regulations are in effect, but allows a State to completely prohibit any discharge from a vessel into waters of the State when its water quality requires greater environmental protection than that afforded by the Federal standards. Requires the EPA Administrator to then take specified enforcement action with respect to such prohibition. Requires a State to specifically explain why a prohibition would apply only to military vessels and not other types. Limits the application of such regulations with respect to design, construction, manning, or equipment standards on foreign flagged vessels engaged in passage. Provides for interagency cooperation in the development of appropriate standards under the marine vessel discharge requirements of such Act. (Sec. 323) Revises Federal provisions concerning: (1) the establishment of restoration advisory boards; (2) funding for the administrative expenses of such boards; and (3) the provision of technical assistance grants for determining the nature of environmental hazards at a military installation to be closed under a base closure law and the restoration activities proposed or conducted there. Provides funding for such activities to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, with an FY 1996 limit of $4 million. Requires reports from technical review committees or restoration advisory boards formed for such purpose to be included in an annual DOD report on environmental restoration activities. Subtitle D: Civilian Employees - Provides the minimum FY 1996 and 1997 number of personnel to be employed as military reserve technicians. (Sec. 332) Exempts DOD from personnel ceilings for civilian personnel. (Sec. 333) Requires military reserve technicians to wear the uniform appropriate for the member's grade and component while performing technician duties. Provides a uniform or clothing allowance for such technicians. (Sec. 334) Extends through January 31, 1996, the temporary authority to pay evacuation pay to civilian DOD employees and their dependents and immediate family members evacuated from Guantanamo, Cuba, pursuant to an order issued by the Secretary. Requires a monthly report from the Secretary of the Navy regarding the employees being so paid. (Sec. 335) Authorizes the transfer of civilian employees between the DOD domestic dependent schools and the overseas defense dependents' education system. (Sec. 336) Revises the authority of the Secretary to appoint involuntarily separated military reserve technicians who have served for a specified minimum period to positions within DOD for which such individual is qualified. (Sec. 337) Includes employees voluntarily separated under reduction-in- force procedures among those eligible for continued health insurance coverage for a temporary period. (Sec. 338) Makes inapplicable to DOD: (1) the 120-day limitation on the detail of certain Federal employees; and (2) required biannual reports concerning progress made in meeting part-time career employment goals. (Sec. 340) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to release from employment those individuals who volunteer under a reduction in force. Terminates such authority at the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 341) Authorizes DOD to make lump-sum severance payments to its employees, requiring a refund of the pro rata share of such pay if such individual is reemployed. Terminates such authority as of the end of FY 1999. (Sec. 342) Adjusts the holiday observance day for DOD employees whose basic workweek is other than Monday through Friday. (Sec. 343) Includes DOD nonappropriated fund instrumentality employees within a Federal provision authorizing flexible and compressed work schedules. Subtitle E: Defense Financial Management - Prohibits funds authorized to be appropriated to DOD by this Act from being obligated for a capital lease for the establishment of a DOD financial management training center until 90 days after the Secretary submits to the defense committees a certification of the need for such a center as well as a report on financial management training for DOD personnel. (Sec. 352) Prohibits the Secretary during FY 1996 from establishing any center for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service not operating on the date of enactment of this Act unless the Secretary reports to the Congress a need for such new center and 30 days have elapsed since the receipt of such report. Requires the Secretary, before submitting such report, to reexamine the need for any new center. Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Assistance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army or Air Force to provide for participation of its National Guard in joint disaster and emergency assistance exercises. (Sec. 362) Prohibits funds authorized in this or any other Act from being obligated or expended for: (1) the Office of Civil-Military Programs within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; or (2) the Office of Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. (Sec. 363) Revises Federal provisions establishing the Civil-Military Cooperative Action Program to: (1) allow only the reserve components (currently, all of the armed forces) to participate in the Program; (2) revise the Program objectives; and (3) eliminate the establishment of Federal or regional advisory councils for the Program. Subtitle G: Operation of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Activities - Makes inapplicable to the Coast Guard a Federal provision limiting the authorized amount of funds to be retained in the morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) account of an armed force. (Sec. 372) Authorizes the MWR retail facilities to sell items according to regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Prohibits certain sale restrictions from being included in such regulations. Directs the Secretary to report to the defense committees identifying each restriction in effect with respect to exchange stores and other revenue-generating facilities operated by nonappropriated fund activities of DOD for the MWR of its members. (Sec. 373) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to repeal the requirement to convert naval ships' stores to nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. Subtitle H: Other Matters - Makes funds from the National Defense Sealift Fund available for expenses of the Ready Reserve component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. (Sec. 382) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from contracting for the construction of any additional sealift ship by a contractor unless such Secretary has submitted to the Congress, at least 60 days before entering into a contract, a certification: (1) with respect to the history of such contractor in meeting cost requirements under any former sealift construction contract; or (2) that such contractor is financially capable of constructing such additional sealift ship without financial assistance from the Government. (Sec. 383) Requires a specified conditional portion of the amount recovered by the government in a fiscal year for losses and expenses incurred by DOD as a result of contractor fraud at military installations to be credited to appropriations accounts of DOD on the basis of the losses actually suffered at each installation as a result of such fraud. Provides appropriate uses of such amounts by the military departments. (Sec. 384) Authorizes lost, abandoned, or unclaimed property found on a military installation to be sold (after reasonable efforts to find the property's owner) and the proceeds credited to the O&M account of such installation to be used to reimburse the installation for sale costs, and, if amounts still remain, to support MWR activities at the installation. Repeals a demonstration program concerning the use of such proceeds under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993. (Sec. 385) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to sell certain designated articles and items of clothing to members of the Navy and Marine Corps, under specified conditions. Directs such Secretary to sell subsistence supplies to members of other armed forces at prices charged to Navy and Marine Corps personnel (equivalent prices). Authorizes such Secretary to sell serviceable supplies other than subsistence supplies to members of other armed forces for the buyers' use in the service. Authorizes persons who have been honorably discharged from any military department and are receiving medical care through the Public Health Service or the Department of Veterans Affairs to buy subsistence supplies at equivalent prices. Authorizes such Secretary to sell to honorably discharged individuals exterior articles of uniform at equivalent prices. Authorizes such Secretary to sell ships' stores to appropriate civilian officers and employees of the United States at military installations: (1) outside the United States; and (2) inside the United States if it is impractical for such officers and employees to obtain such stores from commercial enterprises without impairing the efficient operation of military activities. Requires sales to civilian officers and employees inside the United States to be made only to those residing within military installations. (Sec. 386) Requires, on and after October 1, 1995, the Civilian Marksmanship Program to be operated as a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States within DOD for the benefit of military personnel and for the promotion of rifle practice and firearms safety among civilians. Requires the Program to be under the general supervision of the Advisory Committee for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, which replaces the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice. Outlines funding provisions for the Advisory Committee. Provides authorized Program activities, including the operation and maintenance of rifle ranges, firearms marksmanship instruction and safety, and firearms competitions. Authorizes the Program to issue arms, ammunition, targets, and related equipment and supplies to gun clubs providing training to various youth organizations. Authorizes the sale of such items to other gun clubs and citizens for Program purposes. Requires the Program Director, before conveying any weapon or ammunition to a person, to provide for a criminal records check of the person with appropriate Federal and State law enforcement agencies. Authorizes the Director to impose reasonable fees for persons and gun clubs participating in any Program activity. Directs the Secretary of the Army to reserve for the Program all remaining M-1 Garand rifles and related accessories still held by the Army. Outlines participation conditions for military personnel participating in rifle instruction and competitions. (Sec. 387) Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress describing the advantages and disadvantages of using contractor personnel, rather than civilian DOD employees, to perform DOD functions that are not essential to the military warfighting mission. (Sec. 388) Prohibits the Secretary of Education from considering any payment made to a local educational agency (LEA) by DOD that is available for current expenditures and used for capital expenses as funds available to the Department of Education for Federal impact aid purposes. Outlines conditions under which an LEA shall be eligible to receive additional assistance as a heavily impacted LEA (an LEA having a high proportion of Federally connected children in its schools). Revises provisions concerning the determination of the amount of such aid to LEAs, with a special rule in the case of a heavily impacted LEA. Revises generally provisions concerning the requirement of the use of current year data for providing appropriate assistance to heavily impacted LEAs. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1996. Authorizes a temporary variation in the end strengths for active-duty Navy and Air Force officers in specified grades. (Sec. 403) Prohibits from being counted against officer personnel end strength limits an officer continuing to hold a general or admiral grade after serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the head of a military department. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1996 for Selected Reserve personnel, authorizing the Secretary to vary such end strengths by up to two percent. Provides the end strengths for members of the reserve serving on active duty in support of the reserve. Increases the number of officers of certain grades authorized to serve on such duty. (Sec. 414) Excludes from inclusion in military personnel end strength limitations: (1) members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve on active duty for more than 180 days in support of cooperative threat reduction programs; and (2) members of the reserve on active duty for 180 days or more for military-to-military contacts and other similar activities. Subtitle C: Military Training Student Loads - Sets forth the authorized FY 1996 military training student loads, allowing for certain adjustments consistent with authorized end strengths. Subtitle D: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to DOD for FY 1996 for military personnel. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Officer Personnel Policy - Reduces from 1,000 to 500 the number of officers to be designated by the Secretary for critical joint duty assignment positions. Authorizes the Secretary to credit an officer for additional joint duty for service in an assignment any portion of which was performed on or after the date of enactment of this Act and which provided significant experience in joint matters, as long as the officer is recommended for such credit by the head of his or her military department. Grants such credit on a case-by-case basis, requiring the Secretary to prescribe uniform criteria for such credit. Requires information on officers receiving such credit to be included by the Secretary in a required annual report. Exempts general and flag officers from a provision limiting the number of officers receiving such credit in a fiscal year to ten percent of the total number of officers in that pay grade selected for the joint specialty in that fiscal year. Considers an officer to have completed a full tour of joint duty upon completion of a second joint duty assignment that is less than the period required for a first joint duty assignment, but not less than two years, whether or not a minimum joint tour duty length waiver was granted for such officer. (Sec. 502) Reduces from six to five years the minimum service obligation for graduates of the various military service academies. Requires the Secretary to: (1) review the effects that such service periods will have on the number and quality of eligible applicants seeking appointment; and (2) report findings and recommendations to the defense committees. (Sec. 503) Requires any officer appointed Surgeon General of an armed force to be educationally and professionally qualified to furnish health care to other persons, including doctors of medicine, dentistry, and osteopathy, nurses, and clinical psychologists. (Sec. 504) Requires an officer appointed as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Air Force: (1) to be appointed for a four-year tenure (currently two); and (2) who holds a lower regular grade to be appointed in the regular grade of major general. (Sec. 505) Includes all officers above the major or lieutenant commander grades (currently, above such grades but below lieutenant general or vice admiral) within current eligibility requirements for voluntary retirement. Allows certain general and flag officers to be retired in the highest grade held by such officer only after the Secretary certifies to the President and the Senate that such officer served satisfactorily on active duty in that grade. (Sec. 506) Extends through FY 1996 certain reserve officer management authorities. (Sec. 507) Prohibits an officer from being frocked (authorized to wear the insignia of a higher grade before being promoted to such grade) unless: (1) the Senate has confirmed such officer's nomination for promotion to such grade; and (2) the officer is serving in, or has been ordered to, a position for which that grade is authorized. Prohibits pay, seniority, and time in service benefits from being accrued by frocked officers. Limits the total number of frocked officers in specified grades on the active-duty list. Authorizes a variation for FY 1996 and 1997 in the number of such officers. (Sec. 508) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to retire any Director of Admissions of the United States Military Academy who has more than 30 years of service as a commissioned officer. Subtitle B: Matters Relating to Reserve Components - Establishes the Department of Defense Ready Reserve Income Insurance Program, administered by the Secretary, to insure Ready Reserve members against the risk of being ordered into covered service. Provides 30 days' automatic enrollment in the Program, with an exception, upon first becoming a member. Requires a member to enroll within such period. Provides as the basic benefit of such insurance $1,000 per month during the period of covered service, allowing a member to elect to reduce or enhance such benefit in specified increments. Defines "covered service" as active duty for more than 30 days in support of involuntary operational missions or during a period of war or national emergency. Requires the Secretary to prescribe the premium rates for such insurance, to be deducted and withheld from the member's basic pay. Authorizes the Secretary to advance to an insured member the amount equal to the first insurance premium payment due. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense Ready Reserve Income Insurance Fund, into which shall be deposited the collected premiums, any amounts appropriated to the Fund, and investment returns. Requires: (1) investing of Fund assets by the Secretary; and (2) a required annual accounting of the Fund. Requires the DOD Education Benefits Board of Actuaries to have actuarial responsibility for the Program. Requires the Board to carry out periodic actuarial valuation of benefits, determine appropriate premium rate methodology, and recommend to the Secretary a premium rate schedule in the event of actuarial gains or losses to the Fund due to changes in actuarial assumptions. Directs the Secretary to request the President to request from the Congress a special appropriation in the event of insufficient Fund assets. Provides for the payment of benefits to designated recipients. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase insurance from eligible insurers in order to provide the benefits required under the Program, allowing the Secretary to terminate such insurance policy at any time. Requires termination of insurance coverage for a member for the nonpayment of premiums, as well as insurance forfeiture upon conviction of certain crimes against the country or refusal to perform service or wear the uniform. (Sec. 512) Includes dentists in critical specialties (currently, only physicians) within a program providing financial assistance for health care professionals in the reserve components. (Sec. 513) Allows reserve personnel performing public safety duty to charge such period of absence to accrued annual leave or compensatory time available. Subtitle C: Uniform Code of Military Justice - Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to provide that if evidence adduced during a military investigation indicates that an accused committed an uncharged offense, then the investigating officer may investigate such additional matter without the accused having first been charged with that offense. (Sec. 524) Requires the imposition of a fine, imprisonment, or both, for an individual who refuses to testify before a court-martial. (Sec. 525) Requires individuals found to be incompetent to stand trial under the UCMJ to be committed to the custody of the Attorney General for hospitalization, examination, and treatment. Provides, depending on hospitalization and examination results, for either continued hospitalization of such individual or release to the convening authority of the court-martial. Requires a person found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility to be committed to a suitable facility until the person is eligible for release after examination and an appropriate hearing. (Sec. 526) Requires any forfeiture of pay or allowances or reduction in grade included in a court-martial sentence to take effect on the earlier of: (1) 20 days after the sentence is adjudged; or (2) the date on which the sentence is approved by the convening authority (current law). Authorizes the convening authority to defer such forfeitures or reduction until the date on which the sentence is approved. Requires court-martial sentences that include confinement for one year or more, death, dishonorable discharge, or dismissal to result in the forfeiture of all pay and allowances due to such member during the confinement or parole. Authorizes the waiver of such forfeitures for up to six months in the case of dependents of such individual. Requires the repayment of all such pay and allowances if the sentence is set aside or disapproved. Revises provisions concerning the deferment of a sentence of confinement in the case of an individual in the custody of a State or foreign country. (Sec. 528) Requires all matters submitted to the convening authority for consideration after a trial by court-martial to be in writing. (Sec. 529) Authorizes a proceeding in revision to correct clerical mistakes in a judgment, order, or other part of the record or any error arising from oversight or omission. (Sec. 530) Provides for appeal by the United States from certain orders or rulings made by a military judge in a court-martial in which a punitive discharge may be adjudged. (Sec. 531) Includes flight from arrest as a punishable action under the UCMJ. (Sec. 532) Removes a gender reference with respect to the UCMJ offense of carnal knowledge with a person under 16 years of age. Provides that, in such a prosecution, it is a defense that the other person was at least 12 years of age and the accused reasonably believed such person to be at least 16. (Sec. 533) Requires newly enlisted personnel to be instructed in the UCMJ within 14 (currently six) days after entrance into active or reserve duty. (Sec. 535) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal the September 30, 1995, delimiting date on the authority of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to appoint Federal or district court judges to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. (Sec. 536) Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to jointly establish an advisory panel to review and make recommendations on jurisdiction over civilians accompanying military personnel in time of armed conflict. Requires reports. Subtitle D: Decorations and Awards - Authorizes the President to award the Purple Heart to certain persons who were taken prisoner or held captive while serving in the U.S. armed forces before April 25, 1962, and were wounded while being taken prisoner or held captive. Excepts from such awards persons convicted of rendering assistance to the enemy. (Sec. 542) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to award a decoration to any person for an act, achievement, or service performed while serving on active duty during the Vietnam era. Directs the Secretary of each military department to review all recommendations received for such decorations, and to report findings concerning such review and awards to the defense committees. (Sec. 543) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretaries of the military departments should review the service records of military personnel who performed military intelligence duties between January 1, 1940, and December 31, 1990, in order to determine whether, by reason of mission secrecy, any such personnel were not properly considered for decorations and awards, and if so, to so consider such personnel for such awards. Exempts such consideration from certain time limitation provisions. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to establish within his Office an office responsible for the policy, control, and oversight of the entire process for the investigation and recovery of missing persons, as well as the coordination of DOD efforts on such matters with other Federal departments and agencies. Requires search and rescue responsibilities to be established by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. Requires the establishment of uniform procedures for the: (1) determination of the status of such persons; and (2) collection, analysis, review, dissemination, and periodic update of related information. Requires the commander of the unit or facility where a person was assigned to make an initial report to the Secretary after receiving information that the whereabouts of a person are uncertain and that the absence may be involuntary. Requires the Secretary to appoint a board to conduct an inquiry as to the whereabouts of a missing person. Directs the board to make a recommendation to the Secretary as to the whereabouts or status of such persons. Prohibits such board from declaring a person dead unless the evidence before it establishes conclusive proof of such person's death. Requires board proceedings to be closed to the public (including the next of kin). Directs the Secretary, after receiving a board recommendation, to determine whether such person shall continue to have a missing status, be declared to have deserted or be absent without leave, or be declared dead. Requires a report to family members and other interested persons. Requires the appointment of an additional board if further information becomes available. Allows the next of kin and other family members to attend inquiries held by the subsequent board. Requires a recommendation by the subsequent board, as well as a report to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to review such report (together with any objections to board findings filed by family members and other interested persons attending the subsequent board inquiry), and to take appropriate action with respect to a person's status, including notification to family members and other interested persons. Requires, with specified exceptions concerning classified or privileged information or privacy, the Secretary having jurisdiction over a missing person to ensure that the person's personnel file contains all available information relating to the person's disappearance, whereabouts, or status. Prohibits any board from declaring a person dead unless: (1) credible evidence exists; (2) the United States possesses no credible evidence to suggest that such person is alive; and (3) representatives of the United States have made a complete search of the area where the person was last seen and have examined the records of the government or entity having control over such area. Provides additional information to be included in a report when a person is declared dead. Allows military pay for the full time of absence for any person in a missing or dead status under the Missing Persons Act of 1942 who is found alive and is returned to the control of the United States. Directs the Secretary concerned, upon the enlistment or appointment of a person into the armed forces, to require such person to specify the individual to receive information as to the member's whereabouts or status if necessary. Directs the Secretary of State to carry out a comprehensive study of the Missing Persons Act of 1942 and related laws and regulations with respect to accounting for civilian employees or contractors of the United States who serve with or accompany military personnel in the field to determine the means, if any, by which such procedures may be improved. Directs such Secretary to report study results, together with appropriate recommendations for change, to the defense committees. (Sec. 552) Amends the UCMJ to state that the period during which an officer deserts, is absent from duty, is confined by military or civilian authority for more than one day for a trial, or is unable for more than one day to perform his or her duties shall not be counted in computing such officer's length of military service. Provides that the time required to be made up by either an enlisted member or an officer due to such reasons may not be counted in computing years of service. (Sec. 553) Provides for separation from service in cases involving persons sentenced to confinement for one year or more. (Sec. 554) Removes the six-month limit on the duration of field training or practice cruise required under the Senior ROTC Program. (Sec. 555) Authorizes the Secretary of each military department to: (1) review the military record compilation process for potential improvements in the correction of such records; and (2) report study findings and recommendations to the Secretary, who in turn shall transmit such reports to the defense committees. (Sec. 556) Prohibits the Secretary from reducing below a specified amount for FY 1996 and thereafter the total number of DOD medical personnel unless he certifies to the Congress that: (1) the number being reduced is excess to current and projected needs; and (2) such reduction will not result in an increase in the cost of health care services provided under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). Requires the Assistant Secretary of Defense responsible for health affairs to submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the reduction in the number of such personnel over a five-year period beginning on October 1, 1996. (Sec. 557) Repeals, with respect to the military service academies, the requirement that the: (1) position of athletic director shall be a position in the civil service; and (2) Superintendent of such academy shall administer a nonappropriated fund account for the athletics program at such academy. (Sec. 558) Prohibits any funds available to DOD from being obligated to carry out a test program for determining the cost effectiveness of transferring to the private sector the operations of one or more military academy preparatory schools. (Sec. 559) Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to jointly establish an advisory panel on centralized review of DOD administrative personnel actions. Requires a report from the panel to the Secretary and the Attorney General, to be transmitted, together with comments, to the Congress. Terminates the panel 30 days after submission of its report. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1996 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases the rates of basic pay and basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) by 2.4 percent and the basic allowance for quarters (BAQ) by 5.2 percent, on January 1, 1996. (Sec. 602) Authorizes a member without dependents who is in pay grade E-6 and who is assigned to U.S. quarters that do not meet minimum adequacy standards established by DOD for such pay grade to elect not to occupy such quarters and instead receive the BAQ prescribed for his or her pay grade. (Sec. 603) Authorizes as of July 1, 1996, the payment of a BAQ for enlisted personnel in the pay grade of E-6. (Sec. 604) Prohibits the reduction of the minimum monthly variable housing allowance (VHA) for members living in high cost areas as long as such member maintains uninterrupted eligibility to receive the VHA within that area and his or her certified housing costs are not reduced. Increases the total amount available for the VHA to cover additional payments permitted under this section. Requires an implementation report from the Secretary to the Congress. Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1997: (1) certain enlistment and reenlistment bonuses for the reserves; (2) the nurse officer candidate accession program; (3) the accession bonus for registered nurses; (4) incentive special pay for nurse anesthetists; (5) the authority relating to the payment of other bonuses and special pay for active duty officer and enlisted personnel; and (6) the authority of the Secretary concerned to repay education loans for certain health professionals who serve in the Selected Reserve of a military department. (Sec. 614) Provides to both warrant officers (current law) and enlisted members of specified grades hazardous duty incentive pay for service as air weapons controllers. (Sec. 615) Reduces from nine to eight of the first 12 years of aviation service the period during which an officer must perform operational flying duties in order to receive aviation career incentive pay. (Sec. 617) Provides continuous entitlement to career sea pay for crew members of a ship designated as a tender-class ship. (Sec. 618) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, effective as of January 1, 1996, to increase to a maximum of $375 monthly the rate of special duty assignment pay for enlisted personnel serving as military recruiters. Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Repeals a requirement that DOD travel allowances must be based on distances established over the shortest normally traveled route, and under mileage tables prepared under the direction of the Secretary. (Sec. 622) Provides a departure allowance when dependents of military personnel are authorized (currently, only when ordered) by competent authority to depart from an area. (Sec. 623) Provides a dislocation allowance for those directed to move as a result of a base closure or realignment. (Sec. 624) Includes students who cease to be enrolled in a foreign institution of higher education within a provision authorizing the Secretary concerned to return to the United States formerly dependent children of military personnel who attain a nondependent age while overseas. Subtitle D: Commissaries and Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities - Authorizes certain members of the Ready Reserve to use DOD commissary stores for a period of one year on the same basis as members on active duty. (Currently, such members are permitted such use for 12 days of any calendar year during which the members are eligible.) (Sec. 632) Authorizes full commissary use (currently limited to 12 days a year) for members of the Retired Reserve (and their survivors) who are under 60 years of age and would be eligible for retired pay except that they are under such age. (Sec. 633) Authorizes the use of MWR facilities on the same basis as members on active duty for: (1) members of the Selected Reserve in good standing; (2) members of the Ready Reserve other than members of the Selected Reserve; and (3) members of the reserve under age 60 who would be eligible for retired pay except that they are under such age. Allows such use for the dependents of (1) and (3), above. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Makes first payable in March (currently, September) of the following year cost-of-living increases for military retired pay that become effective in 1994 or 1995 (currently, 1994 through 1997). (Sec. 642) Makes ineligible for retired pay a person who is convicted of an offense under the UCMJ and whose executed sentence includes death, a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, or dismissal (in the case of an officer). (Sec. 643) Allows to be deducted from the pay of: (1) a Federal employee the administrative costs of executing legal process in a garnishment action; and (2) members of the armed forces the administrative costs of establishing and maintaining an involuntary allotment from military pay. Provides for the disposition of amounts withheld for such administrative costs. (Sec. 644) Increases from $100,000 to $200,000 the maximum amount of life insurance coverage under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). Repeals a provision authorizing a member to increase such coverage amounts in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $200,000. (Sec. 645) Terminates SGLI coverage for members of the Ready Reserve who fail to pay the required premiums 120 days after the Secretary concerned transmits to such member a termination notification. (Sec. 646) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the possible extension to junior noncommissioned officers (pay grades E-5 and 6) the same privileges provided for senior noncommissioned officers (those above E-6), including the privileges to mess (eat) separately and to receive a BAS. (Sec. 647) Authorizes the payment to survivors of deceased military personnel of all leave accrued but unused. (Sec. 648) Directs the Secretary concerned to pay an annuity to the qualified surviving spouse of each member of the armed forces who: (1) died before March 21, 1974, and was entitled to retired or retainer pay on the date of death; and (2) was a member of a reserve component during the period beginning on September 21, 1972, and ending on October 1, 1978, and at the time of death would have been eligible for retired or retainer pay except that the person was under 60 years of age. Defines a qualified spouse as one who has not remarried and is not eligible for an annuity under the Survivor Benefit Plan. Provides an annuity amount of $165 monthly, adjusted periodically with cost-of-living increases. (Sec. 649) Provides transitional compensation for dependents of all members (currently, active-duty personnel) separated from service for dependent abuse. Title VII: Health Care - Subtitle A: Health Care Services - Authorizes the provision of authorized medical care and services under CHAMPUS for surviving dependents of Retired Reserve personnel who die before age 60. (Sec. 702) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a dental insurance plan for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. Requires within such plan voluntary enrollment and premium sharing between DOD and the members enrolled, with a member premium limit of $25 monthly. Outlines provisions concerning plan benefits and termination. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 703) Provides under CHAMPUS: (1) for military dependents under six years old, health promotion and disease prevention visits, as well as immunizations; and (2) for those six years old or older, health promotion and disease prevention visits in connection with immunizations or with diagnostic or preventive pap smears and mammograms. (Sec. 704) Makes permanent (currently ends September 30, 1995) the authority of the Secretary to carry out a specialized treatment facility program. (Sec. 705) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make special provisions for the enrollment under Medicare Part B of retired military personnel (and their dependents) who are eligible as covered beneficiaries for CHAMPUS medical and dental care and who are adversely affected by the closure of a military medical treatment facility of DOD pursuant to the closure or realignment of a military installation. Waives the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty for such individuals. Subtitle B: TRICARE Program - Requires a military medical facility to provide to the covered beneficiaries enrolled in a health care plan of such facility the same health care benefits as are available to covered beneficiaries in that catchment area under the DOD managed health care program (TRICARE Program). Provides transitional provisions. (Sec. 713) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should take steps to ensure that covered CHAMPUS beneficiaries who are also eligible for Medicare and reside in a TRICARE region have adequate access to health care services after the implementation of the TRICARE Program in that region. (Sec. 714) Directs the Secretary during FY 1996 to carry out a pilot program, in a region in which the TRICARE Program has been implemented, for the provision of wraparound services (individualized mental health services provided in return for payment on a case-by-case basis) to covered beneficiaries who are children in need of such services. Requires a pilot program: (1) agreement, with specified requirements, between the Secretary and a mental health services provider; and (2) report from the Secretary to the defense committees. Subtitle C: Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities - Amends the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1984, to extend through September 30, 1997, the authority of specified Secretaries to terminate the status of certain medical facilities as uniformed services treatment facilities (USTFs). (Sec. 722) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to subject USTFs and any participation agreement between USTFs and the Secretary to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). (Sec. 723) Makes a USTF responsible for paying charges imposed by a private facility or health care provider for providing care outside the catchment area of the USTF to a member of the armed forces enrolled in a USTF health care plan. Directs the Secretary to require a CHAMPUS health care provider to provide such care in accordance with the same payment rules. Subtitle D: Other Changes to Existing Laws Regarding Health Care Management - Makes available for two fiscal years three percent of the funds authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for programs and activities carried out under CHAMPUS. (Sec. 732) Provides the maximum allowable payment to individual health care providers under CHAMPUS, with an exception when necessary to ensure that covered beneficiaries retain adequate access to health care services. Provides transition provisions. (Sec. 733) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (currently, only the Secretary of Defense) to enter into personal services contracts to carry out health care responsibilities with respect to medical treatment facilities of the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy. Ratifies any such contract entered into before the effective date of this Act. (Sec. 734) Amends title XI (General Provisions and Peer Review) of the Social Security Act to authorize the use of information contained in the Medicare and Medicaid Data Bank to assist in the identification of, and collection from, third parties responsible for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the United States for health care services furnished to CHAMPUS beneficiaries. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences to establish at the University a program of research on the furnishing of care and services by nurses in the armed forces, to be known as the TriService Nursing Research Program. Requires Program administration by a TriService Nursing Research Group composed of military nurses who are involved in military nursing research and designated by the Secretary concerned. Provides research topics. (Sec. 742) Establishes a Fisher House Trust Fund in both the Army and the Air Force, funds of which are to be used for the operation of Fisher houses, which are housing facilities located in proximity to military medical treatment facilities and available for residential use on a temporary basis by patients at such facilities, as well as their family members or others providing the equivalent of familial support for such patients. Requires expenditures from such trust funds to be made only under annual appropriations and only if specifically authorized by law. (Sec. 743) Includes the Coast Guard within a Federal provision limiting the prices that may be charged to certain Federal departments and agencies by manufacturers of pharmaceuticals when purchased for use in medical facilities of such departments and agencies. Title VIII: Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters - Subtitle A: Acquisition Reform - Requires funds appropriated for any fiscal year after 1995 that are administratively reserved or committed for satellite on-orbit incentive fees to remain available for obligation until the fee is earned, but only if and to the extent that applicable Federal law is complied with in the reservation and commitment of funds for such purpose. (Sec. 802) Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require an executive agency to publish for at least ten days in advance a notification of the intent to solicit bids or proposals for a contract for property or services for a price expected to exceed $10,000, but not to exceed $25,000. (Current law has no price limits on such required notification.) (Sec. 803) Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to require the head of a Federal agency to make management decisions on all findings and recommendations set forth in an audit report of the inspector general of such agency within a maximum of six months after the issuance of the report, and to make such decisions on findings and recommendations of an audit report from outside the Federal Government within six months after the date on which the head of the agency receives the report. Requires completed actions with respect to an inspector general's findings and recommendations within 12 months after the date of the inspector general's report. (Sec. 804) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to direct the Secretary to establish a test program under which contracting activities in the military departments and defense agencies are authorized to undertake one or more demonstration projects to determine whether the negotiation and administration of comprehensive subcontracting plans will reduce administrative burdens on contractors while enhancing opportunities provided under DOD contracts for small businesses as well as small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires a broad range of the supplies and services acquired by DOD to be included in the test program. Includes as covered contractors under the test program those which furnished DOD with supplies or services pursuant to at least three contracts having an aggregate value of at least $5 million. (Sec. 805) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to contract or otherwise provide for necessary salvage facilities for public and private vessels if: (1) available commercial salvage facilities are inadequate to meet the Navy's requirements; and (2) such Secretary provides public notice of the intent to enter into such contracts. Authorizes such Secretary to acquire or transfer such vessels and equipment for operation by private salvage companies as necessary. Provides for: (1) the settlement of salvage claims; and (2) the disposition of receipts. (Sec. 806) Repeals a Federal provision authorizing the Secretary of a military department to delegate certain contracting authority. (Sec. 807) Requires any defense research paper issued or technological assessment made by a defense research facility with respect to a major weapon system to be made part of the record for the purpose of making acquisition program (currently, milestone 0, I, and II) decisions. (Sec. 808) Applies defense procurement requirements to the purchase of supplies used for experimental or test purposes only when such purchases are made in quantity. (Sec. 809) Repeals a provision requiring certain quality control in the procurement of critical aircraft and ship spare parts. (Sec. 810) Authorizes funds appropriated to a military department to be used for the acquisition of design and process data. (Sec. 811) Revises provisions concerning the content of regulations required for independent cost estimates with respect to various phases of major defense acquisition programs. (Sec. 812) Allows the United States to recoup indirect (currently, only direct) fees associated with the use of DOD laboratories and other facilities for the testing of materials and equipment. (Sec. 813) Subjects to the Walsh-Healey Act each contract for the construction, alteration, furnishing, or equipping of a naval vessel, unless the President determines that such requirement is not in the interest of national defense. (Sec. 814) Requires any contractor agreeing to allow the inclusion or incorporation of defense features on aircraft owned by such contractor for possible use with the Civil Reserve Air Fleet to operate such aircraft for DOD as needed during any activation of the Fleet (currently, only permitted during activation of the full Fleet). Subtitle B: Other Matters - Earmarks specified O&M funds authorized under this Act for DOD procurement technical assistance programs, further earmarking such funds for technical assistance in certain distressed areas. (Sec. 822) Considers a DOD cable television franchise agreement as a contract for telecommunications services for purposes of part 49 of the FAR. Title IX: Department of Defense Organization and Management - Redesignates the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, with appropriate responsibilities. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Authorizes the Secretary, in the national interest, to transfer authorizations made available to DOD in this Division for FY 1996 between any such authorizations for such fiscal year. Limits to $2 billion the total authorized transfers. Directs the Secretary to promptly notify the Congress of each such transfer. (Sec. 1002) Removes a requirement prohibiting the Secretary from designating DOD personnel as disbursing officials for departmental pay and expenses of the District of Columbia. Revises disbursing authority with respect to DOD and its individual military departments. Authorizes military personnel under the Secretary's jurisdiction to certify vouchers when authorized, in writing, by the Secretary. (Sec. 1003) Establishes in the Treasury the Defense Modernization Account. Provides for credits to the Account. Requires Account funds to be used for: (1) increasing the quantity of items and services procured under a procurement program in order to achieve a more efficient production or delivery rate; and (2) RDT&E and procurement necessary for modernization of an existing system or a system being procured under an ongoing procurement program. Provides Account use limitations. Limits to $500 million the funds that may be transferred from the Account in any fiscal year for such procurement modernization purposes, requiring the Secretary to notify the congressional defense committees prior to any such transfers. Requires quarterly reports from the Secretary to such committees concerning Account credits, transfers, and expenditures. Makes such provision inapplicable to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy. (Sec. 1004) Adjusts the amounts authorized for appropriation in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 by the increases and decreases in title I of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions for the Department of Defense to Preserve and Enhance Military Readiness Act of 1995. (Sec. 1005) Limits to $500,000 the funds authorized to be obligated or expended by the Secretary for emergency and extraordinary expenses until the Secretary has notified the congressional defense committees of the intent to obligate such funds and, in the case of an obligation or expenditure in excess of: (1) $1 million, 15 days have elapsed since the notification; or (2) $500,000, but no more than $1 million, 5 days have elapsed since such notification. Removes the time requirements of (1) and (2), above, when the Secretary determines that the national security objectives will be compromised by such delay. Requires the Secretary to notify such committees when such waiver authority is exercised. (Sec. 1006) Authorizes the Secretary, beginning after FY 1994, to transfer funds to military appropriations for a fiscal year out of funds available to DOD from the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Defense, appropriation. Authorizes the Secretary, after FY 1993, to transfer to such appropriations unobligated amounts of funds appropriated for O&M and military personnel. Provides transfer limits. (Sec. 1007) Directs the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees a special report on funding for the reserve components. Subtitle B: Naval Vessels - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to list and maintain on the Naval Vessel Register at least two of the Iowa class battleships that were stricken from the Register in February, 1993. Requires selection of such battleships that are in the best material condition. Requires such Secretary to retain logistical support to maintain the battleships. Terminates this provision when such Secretary notifies the defense committees that the Navy has an operational fire support capability that equals or exceeds that of the Iowa class battleships. (Sec. 1012) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer on either a grant or lease basis specified naval frigates to the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Waives specified congressional notification requirements with respect to such transfers. Terminates such transfer authority two years after the enactment of this Act, except that a lease entered into during such period may be renewed. Subtitle C: Counter-Drug Activities - Revises generally provisions concerning the authority for Federal support of State drug interdiction and counter-drug activities of the National Guard. Repeals a provision excluding National Guard personnel performing such activities from annual reserve duty end strength limitations. Allows National Guard personnel to be ordered to perform full-time National Guard duty in support of such activities. Authorizes the governor of a State to request such personnel to perform such duty. Requires the Attorney General of a State to certify that the use of such personnel for such purposes is authorized by, and consistent with, State law, and that it serves an appropriate State law enforcement purpose. Limits to 4000 the number of National Guard personnel performing such activities for a State for a period of more than 180 days. Authorizes the Secretary to increase such limits by not more than 20 percent for any fiscal year if determined necessary for national security purposes. (Sec. 1022) Prohibits, with an exception, the use of funds made available to DOD for obligations or expenses of the National Drug Intelligence Center, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. (Sec. 1023) Directs the Secretary to either: (1) procure nonintrusive inspection systems and transfer such systems to the U.S. Customs Service; or (2) transfer funds to the Secretary of the Treasury for such procurement. Earmarks funds authorized under this Act for such purpose. Subtitle D: Department of Defense Education Programs - Reaffirms the congressional commitment towards the continuation of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Prohibits, during the five-year period beginning on October 1, 1995, the personnel staffing levels for the University from being reduced below such levels as of October 1, 1993. (Sec. 1032) Authorizes the Board of Regents at the University to establish a graduate school of nursing and other programs determined necessary in order to operate the University cost-effectively. (Sec. 1033) Earmarks funds authorized under this Act to fund basic adult education programs for military personnel (and their dependents) serving outside the United States. (Sec. 1034) Limits to enlisted members of the Air Force (currently, enlisted members of the armed forces) the scope of educational programs offered at the Community College of the Air Force. (Sec. 1035) Changes from December 15 to March 1 annually the due date of a reporting requirement of the Secretary with respect to the operation of the DOD educational assistance program. Subtitle E: Cooperative Threat Reduction With States of the Former Soviet Union - Prohibits the obligation of cooperative threat reduction (CTR) program funds to assist nuclear weapons scientists in States of the former Soviet Union until 30 days after the Secretary certifies to the Congress that such funds will not be used to contribute to the modernization of the strategic nuclear forces of such States or for R&D or production of weapons of mass destruction. (Sec. 1043) Withholds $50 million of the funds for CTR programs until the President certifies to the Congress that Russia is in compliance with its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention. Subtitle F: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Authorizes NATO organizations to participate in cooperative R&D projects under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 1052) Expresses the sense of the Congress recognizing the importance to the United States of effective export controls on dual-use (military and commercial) items and technologies that are critical to the military capabilities of U.S. armed forces. Calls for the Government to identify such critical items and technologies and exercise effective export control over them. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the effect of such export control policy on U.S. national security interests. Directs the Secretary to: (1) review each application submitted to the Secretary of Commerce for a license for the export of a class 2, 3, or 4 biological pathogen to a country known or suspected to have an offensive biological weapons program in order to determine if such an export would be contrary to U.S. national security interests; (2) inform such Secretary of the countries suspected of having such a program; (3) notify such Secretary if the export of a biological pathogen would be contrary to U.S. interests; and (4) have such Secretary deny the application. (Sec. 1053) Directs the Secretary to establish a program under which he may issue guarantees assuring a lender against losses of principal or interest, or both, arising out of the financing of the sale or long-term lease of defense articles or services, or design and construction services, to: (1) NATO countries; (2) countries designated as of March 31, 1995, as major non-NATO allies; (3) a country in Central Europe which has or is changing its form of government to a democracy; and (4) a noncommunist country that was a member nation of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation as of October 31, 1993. Provides for loan limitations, fees, and payment terms. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the loan guarantee program. (Sec. 1054) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 with regard to its landmine clearing assistance program to prohibit FY 1996 funds from being used for military personnel involvement in such activities until 30 days after the Secretary certifies to the Congress that such involvement satisfies military training requirements for such personnel. Terminates the authority to provide such assistance as of the end of FY 1996. Provides FY 1996 funding for such program. (Sec. 1055) States that it shall be the policy of the United States that: (1) the President should ensure that any conventional defense system or technology offered by the United States for sale to NATO nations or major non-NATO allies is concurrently made available to Israel unless the President determines that such would not be in the national security interests; and (2) the President should make available to Israel advanced U.S. technology necessary for achieving continued progress in cooperative U.S.-Israel R&D of theater missile defenses. (Sec. 1056) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Navy should take appropriate action to improve the services available to the Navy at the Port of Haifa, Israel, and ensure that increasing commercial activities there does not adversely affect the availability of required services to the Navy there. (Sec. 1057) Prohibits DOD funds from being obligated or expended to provide financial assistance to any country determined to support international terrorism either directly or in granting sanctuary from prosecution to individuals or groups which engage in such activities. Authorizes a waiver by the President for national security purposes, requiring notification to specified congressional committees when exercising such waiver. (Sec. 1058) Expresses the sense of the Congress supporting international military education and training and other forms of cooperation between U.S. armed forces and the armed forces of countries which are allies with or friendly to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary, upon the recommendation of a commander of a combatant command or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to pay a portion of the costs of providing international military education and training to military and civilian personnel of foreign countries who perform national defense functions. Provides FY 1996 funding for such activities. (Sec. 1059) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to repeal a limitation with respect to the purchase or construction of American diplomatic facilities in Germany. (Sec. 1060) Earmarks specified funds authorized under this Act for implementing arms control agreements to which the United States is a party, with a limitation. (Sec. 1061) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should consult with the Congress regarding any UN peace operations that could involve U.S. combat forces, and should do so before a UN vote on such action is taken; (2) such forces should participate only when it is clearly in the national security interest to do so; (3) in such situations, U.S. combat forces should be under the operational control of qualified commanders; and (4) none of such forces should be under operational control of foreign nationals except in the most extraordinary circumstances. Subtitle G: Repeal of Certain Reporting Requirements - Repeals miscellaneous reporting requirements under Federal armed forces and military pay provisions, provisions of defense authorization and appropriation Acts, national security laws, and other related laws and Acts. Excuses DOD from certain reporting requirements of the Joint Committee on Printing regarding printing-related matters. Subtitle H: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary to turn off the selective availability feature of the global positioning system by May 1, 1996, unless he submits to the defense committees a specified plan with respect to the development and acquisition of capabilities to deny hostile military forces the ability to interfere with or disrupt the system. (Sec. 1082) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, unless and until the START II Treaty enters into force, the Secretary should not take any action to dismantle or retire specified nuclear delivery systems. Prohibits FY 1996 DOD funds from being used for such purpose. (Sec. 1083) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to extend through FY 1997 the National Guard Civilian Youth Opportunities pilot program. (Sec. 1084) Directs the Secretary to report to the defense committees on the status of current and possible continued support of boards and commissions operating within or for DOD. (Sec. 1085) Amends the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986, to revise the purposes for the provision of Army support for the National Science Center for Communications and Electronics. Authorizes the Secretary to manage, operate, and maintain facilities at the Center in order to conduct educational outreach programs. Authorizes fundraising activities for the management and operation of the Center and the support of its activities. Directs the Secretary to prescribe criteria for determining whether to accept a donation for such Center. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with NSC Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization, to develop, manage, and maintain a national science center under this section. (Sec. 1086) Authorizes the Secretary to suspend or terminate an action for collection of a claim against the estate of a person who died while serving on active duty in the armed forces if circumstances make it appropriate to do so. (Sec. 1087) Increases to up to $100,000 (currently, $40,000) the maximum limit for a claim by a member of the armed forces for damage to property during a relocation when such claim arose from an emergency evacuation or from extraordinary circumstances which occurred on or after June 1, 1991. (Sec. 1088) Authorizes, with limitations, dependents of Government employees to utilize check cashing and other exchange transactions through Government disbursing officials. Requires a pay offset from the dependent's sponsor for any deficiencies resulting from a dependent's transactions, including charges for insufficient funds. (Sec. 1089) Entitles veterans with total disability ratings to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired military personnel. (Sec. 1090) Authorizes the Secretary to transport to Hawaii for medical care children under 18 years old who reside in the Pacific Rim region, are crippled and in need of medical care due to such condition, will be admitted to a medical facility in Honolulu which specializes in providing such care, and are unable to afford the cost of such transportation. Authorizes the Secretary to transport one adult attendant accompanying such child. (Sec. 1091) Expresses the sense of the Senate that educational institutions should not have a policy of denying the Secretary from obtaining for military recruiting purposes: (1) entry to any campus or access to students equal to that of other employers; or (2) access to directory information pertaining to such students. Encourages the Secretary to prescribe regulations for determining if and when such an institution has denied such student access. (Sec. 1092) Requires advance medical directives executed by military personnel eligible for legal assistance to be exempt from legal requirements of State law and given the same legal effect as a directive executed in accordance with State law. Provides that such directives shall not be enforceable in a State that does not otherwise recognize and enforce such directives. (Sec. 1093) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to report to specified congressional committees within 30 days after the enactment of this Act on military manpower requirements necessary to implement export controls on certain weapons transfers. (Sec. 1094) Includes the period between July 1, 1958, and August 4, 1964, within the Vietnam era in the case of veterans who served on active military duty in the Vietnam theater of operations during such period.
Bill· SS. 1125 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Infrastructure Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Subtitle C: Land Conveyances Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction and Establishment of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Subtitle E: Other Matters Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes such Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1995 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. (Sec. 2205) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to increase the authorized amount for a military construction project at the Patuxent River Naval Warfare Center, Maryland. (Sec. 2206) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to: (1) decrease the amount authorized for a military construction project relating to Damneck, Fleet Combat Training Center, Virginia; and (2) authorize, with the use of the funds under (1), above, a military construction project at the Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Extends through a conditional date the authorization for the Norfolk project. (Sec. 2207) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to acquire all rights and interest to specified property at Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, to demolish a mausoleum there, and to provide for the appropriate disposition of the remains contained therein. Authorizes such Secretary to then obtain architectural engineering and design services for the construction of a Marine Corps office and warehouse facility on such property. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. (Sec. 2402) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for crediting to the Department of Defense Housing Improvement Fund to carry out appropriate activities. (Sec. 2403) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) improve existing military family housing in a specified amount; and (2) carry out energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Department of Defense (DOD). Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized under this title. (Sec. 2406) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to increase the authorized amounts for military construction projects at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, and the Umatilla Army Depot, Oregon. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Infrastructure - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the NATO Infrastructure Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1995 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1995 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 to decrease the amount authorized for FY 1994 for Air National Guard projects. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in titles XXI through XXVI on October 1, 1998, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 1999, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain FY 1992 and 1993 military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned, when carrying out a minor military construction project not otherwise authorized by law to correct a life-, health-, or safety-threatening deficiency, to expend up to $3 million for such project. (Currently, general minor military construction projects are limited to $1.5 million.) Authorizes such Secretary to use O&M funds to carry out such special projects which exceed $1 million. (Sec. 2803) Makes inapplicable to the acquisition of existing family housing in lieu of new construction for military family housing for five years after the enactment of this Act specified Federal provisions which limit by pay grade the net floor area authorized for such housing. Extends permanently (currently expired on September 30, 1994) the authority of the Secretary concerned to waive such net floor area limitations during the acquisition by purchase of military family housing for military personnel in pay grades below O-6. (Sec. 2805) Waives the above net floor area limits with respect to the construction, acquisition, or improvement of family housing units during the five-year period beginning on October 1, 1995. (Sec. 2806) Increases from: (1) 300 to 450 the number of military family housing units that may be leased in foreign countries for no more than $25,000 per unit per year; and (2) 220 to 350 the number of such units for which such maximum lease amount may be waived for incumbents of special positions or in other special circumstances. (Sec. 2807) Extends to all military departments (currently only the Navy) the authority to enter into limited partnerships with private developers for the development of military family housing. Redesignates the Navy Housing Investment Account as the Defense Housing Investment Account. Terminates the Navy Housing Investment Board. Extends through FY 2000 the authority to enter into such partnerships. (Sec. 2808) Revises limitations on cost increases with respect to contracts for the construction of military family housing. (Sec. 2809) Authorizes the Secretary to convey any military family housing facilities that, due to damage or deterioration, is in a condition that is uneconomical to repair. Makes such authority inapplicable to housing facilities on military installations approved for closure under a base closure law or at facilities outside the United States at which the Secretary terminates operations. Limits to $5 million in any fiscal year the aggregate total value of the facilities authorized to be conveyed. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) consideration; (2) a requirement to notify the Congress 21 days in advance; (3) the inapplicability of certain Federal property disposal laws; and (4) the deposit of conveyance proceeds into the Department of Defense Military Housing Improvement Fund to be used for construction of new military family housing. (Sec. 2810) Includes water efficient maintenance within a current DOD energy performance goal and plan. (Sec. 2811) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to exercise any authority to provide for the acquisition, construction, improvement, or rehabilitation by private persons of: (1) family housing units on or near military installations within the United States and its territories and possessions; and (2) unaccompanied housing units on or near such installations. Authorizes such Secretary to make direct loans and loan guarantees to such private persons for such purposes, with loan and guarantee limits. Allows such loans and guarantees to be made only to the extent that appropriations are made in advance or other authority is provided in appropriation Acts. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to: (1) contract for the lease of family or unaccompanied housing units to be constructed, improved, or rehabilitated for such purposes; and (2) invest in nongovernmental entities carrying out such projects, with an investment value limit. Authorizes such Secretary to enter into collateral incentive agreements with nongovernmental entities under which such entities agree to ensure a preference to military personnel in the lease or purchase of a reasonable number of houses covered by the investment. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into rental guarantees which assure the occupancy of units and the appropriate rental income which should be derived from such units, allowing such Secretary to pay more than the rental amount to encourage a lessor to make such housing available to military personnel. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to convey or lease property or facilities to private persons and use the proceeds to carry out such military housing activities. Makes such authority inapplicable to property or facilities at a military installation approved for closure under a base closure law. Provides, with respect to construction of new housing facilities, for: (1) interim leases prior to the completion of an entire project; (2) required conformity in room patterns and floor areas with similar military family housing units in the locale; (3) the inapplicability of current floor space limitations based on pay grade; and (4) the acquisition or construction of appropriate support facilities to accompany such family housing. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to: (1) assign military personnel to housing units acquired under these provisions; and (2) obtain housing lease payments through pay allotments. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense Housing Improvement Fund and provides credits to the Fund. Requires such funds to be used for such military housing activities. Limits to $1 billion the total value in budget authority of all contracts, agreements, and investments undertaken under these provisions for such military housing activities. Requires the Secretary to report: (1) to appropriate congressional committees on each contract or agreement entered into for such military housing activities; and (2) annually in conjunction with the budget submission by the President on the use of authorities provided under these provisions. Terminates five years after the enactment of this Act the authority to enter into any transaction for such military housing activities. Requires a final report from the Secretary to the congressional defense committees no later than March 1, 2000. (Sec. 2812) Makes permanent (currently ends on September 30, 1995) the authority of the Secretary to enter into leases of land for special operations activities. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the defense committees on leasehold interests acquired for such purposes. (Sec. 2813) Authorizes the use of DOD funds for the construction of school facilities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Subtitle B: Defense Base Closure and Realignment - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to accept the services of a lessee for an entire installation to be closed or realigned under a base closure law, or any part of such installation, without regard to the normal requirement that a substantial portion of the installation be leased. (Sec. 2822) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (the base closure laws) to authorize the Secretary to enter into any type of agreement (currently, to contract) for the provision of community services at installations being closed or realigned. (Sec. 2823) Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to authorize the use during FY 1996 of funds in the Defense Environmental Restoration Account for environmental restoration at installations approved for closure or realignment under such Act. (Sec. 2824) Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to authorize the lease of real property located at an installation approved for closure under a base closure law if: (1) the lessee has agreed to purchase the property; (2) the EPA Administrator has determined the property suitable for leasing; and (3) there are adequate assurances that the United States will take all environmental remediation action still required on such property. Subtitle C: Land Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to acquire a parcel of real property adjacent to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Authorizes a land exchange of equivalent fair market value in order to receive such property. (Sec. 2832) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an agreement with the Port Authority of Mississippi under which the Port Authority may use up to 50 acres of real property and related facilities at the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi. Outlines agreement terms, restrictions, and limitations, including the requirement that the use of such property must be consistent with Navy operations at the Center. Requires congressional notification 21 days before entering into such an agreement. Authorizes such Secretary to use proceeds received from the fair rental value of such property for general administrative costs at the Center. (Sec. 2833) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey to: (1) Burlington County, New Jersey, the resource recovery facility at Fort Dix, New Jersey; (2) Augusta, Georgia, specified water and wastewater treatment plants at Fort Gordon, Georgia; (3) Blackstone, Virginia, a water treatment plant at Fort Pickett, Virginia; (4) the Southern California Edison Company the electric power distribution system at Fort Irwin, California; and (5) the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, Washington, a specified portion of real property at Fort Lewis, Washington (requiring a land exchange from Weyerhaeuser as part of such conveyance). Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction and Establishment of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary, for purposes of this Subtitle) to establish the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNP) to consist of portions of the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Arsenal) in Illinois and to be managed as part of the National Forest System. (Sec. 2853) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) roads, utility rights-of- way, and access within the MNP; (2) agricultural leases and special use authorizations; (3) user fees; (4) salvage of improvements; (5) treatment of user fees and salvage receipts; and (6) cooperation with States, local governments, and other entities. (Sec. 2854) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to transfer the Arsenal property constituting the MNP, without reimbursement, to the Secretary. Permits the transfer of portions only for which no further action is required under environmental laws and that have been eliminated from the areas to be studied further pursuant to the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for the Arsenal. Directs the Secretary of the Army to retain jurisdiction, authority, and control over real property that is used for: (1) water treatment; (2) the treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous substances or petroleum products or derivatives; and (3) response purposes or actions required under environmental laws to remediate contamination or noncompliance. (Sec. 2855) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey certain Arsenal property to: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs for use as a national cemetery; (2) Will County, Illinois, for use as a landfill; and (3) the village of Elwood and the city of Wilmington, Illinois, for use as industrial parks. Provides that the use of such landfill by Federal agencies or additional acreage added for purposes of accommodating the disposal of materials from the restoration of the Arsenal shall be at no cost to the Federal Government. Requires such property to revert to the Secretary for inclusion in the MNP if the property is not operated as a landfill. Provides for the conveyance of specified other Arsenal property to be added to the MNP subject to the Secretary's acceptance. (Sec. 2856) Directs the Secretary of the Army, with respect to the real property at the Arsenal to be transferred, to complete all remedial, response, or other actions required under any environmental law before carrying out such transfers. Requires the Secretary of the Army to retain any obligation or liability at the Arsenal as required under CERCLA and other environmental laws. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Department of Defense Laboratory Revitalization Demonstration Program under which the Secretary may carry out minor military construction projects in order to improve DOD laboratories. Increases the maximum costs of minor construction projects for purposes of the Program. Directs the Secretary to designate the DOD laboratories to be covered by the Program. Requires a report. Prohibits the Secretary from commencing a construction project under the Program after September 30, 1999. (Sec. 2862) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into any agreement that provides for or permits civil aircraft to regularly use Miramar Naval Air Station, California. (Sec. 2863) Directs the Secretary of the Army to report to the defense committees on the status of negotiations on an agreement relating to a land conveyance at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as required under the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990 and 1991.
Bill· SS. 1126 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title XXXI (sic): Department of Energy National Security Programs Subtitle A: National Security Programs Authorizations Subtitle B: Recurring General Provisions Subtitle C: Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction Over Department of Energy National Security Functions Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XXXII: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Title XXXIII: Naval Petroleum Reserves Department of Energy National Security Act for Fiscal Year 1996 - Title XXXI (sic): Department of Energy National Security Programs - Subtitle A: National Security Programs Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for FY 1996 for operating expenses, plant projects, and capital equipment necessary in carrying out the following activities for national security programs: (1) weapons activities; (2) environmental restoration and waste management; (3) various other defense activities; (4) defense nuclear waste disposal; and (5) the payment of penalties to the Hazardous Substances Superfund assessed against the Rocky Flats, Colorado, nuclear site. Subtitle B: Recurring General Provisions - Prohibits the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this title for: (1) the cost of a program exceeding 110 percent of the program authorization or $1 million more than the amount authorized, whichever is the lesser; or (2) programs which have not been presented to, or requested of, the Congress, unless the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) transmits to the appropriate congressional committees a full statement of the action proposed and 30 days have since expired. (Sec. 3122) Places certain funding limits (requiring congressional reports when amounts exceed such limits) for general plant and construction projects of DOE. Provides fund transfer authority (requiring congressional notification of any such transfer). (Sec. 3125) Directs the Secretary, before submitting a funding request for a construction project in support of a DOE national security program, to complete a conceptual design for such project. Requires a separate funding request for such designs for which the estimated costs exceed $3 million. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out construction design services in connection with any proposed construction project if the total estimated cost for the design does not exceed $600,000. Requires specific authorization by law for designs exceeding such amount. (Sec. 3126) Authorizes the use of DOE funds for planning, design, and construction activities for any DOE national security program that must proceed expeditiously in order to protect public health and safety, meet the needs of national defense, or protect property. Requires the Secretary to report to the Senate and House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees (congressional defense committees) when funds are so used. Makes funds for management and support activities and for general plant projects under this Subtitle available for all DOE national security programs. Subtitle C: Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations - Earmarks specified funds authorized under this title for specified three-year programs of research and development with respect to certain tritium production activities, including activities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. (Sec. 3132) Earmarks specified funds authorized under this title for certain plutonium disposition activities, including an environmental assessment. (Sec. 3133) Authorizes specified tritium-related activities to be carried out at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. (Sec. 3134) Directs the Secretary to carry out a program for establishing within the Government a manufacturing infrastructure which has the capability to: (1) refabricate and certify the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile; and (2) manufacture new nuclear warheads. Outlines required capabilities. Provides funding. (Sec. 3135) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for hydronuclear experiments at the Nevada Test Site. (Sec. 3136) Directs the Secretary to conduct a fellowship program for the development of skills critical to the ongoing mission of the DOE nuclear weapons complex. Outlines provisions concerning eligible individuals and DOE facilities at which the fellowship program shall be carried out. Provides funding. (Sec. 3137) Provides the effect of the issuance of environmental impact statements upon the use of appropriated funds for certain DOE facilities. (Sec. 3138) Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare a comprehensive environmental impact statement for the dual-axis radiographic hydrotest facility project; and (2) issue a record of decision on the project pursuant to such statement. (Sec. 3139) Prohibits the use of FY 1996 DOE funds for specified research and education purposes. (Sec. 3140) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for: (1) electrometallurgical processing activities at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory; (2) the processing of spent nuclear fuel rods at the Savannah River Site and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory; and (3) the DOE Declassification Productivity Initiative. (Sec. 3142) Authorizes the Secretary to reprogram funds available to DOE for FY 1996 for activities related to the disposition of spent nuclear fuel in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Limits to $5 million the total amount authorized to be reprogrammed. (Sec. 3143) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for activities relating to worker protection at DOE nuclear weapons facilities. Subtitle D: Transfer of Jurisdiction Over Department of Energy National Security Functions - Expresses the sense of the Senate: (1) recognizing the critical importance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; and (2) questioning DOE's ability to continue to manage the stockpile. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to jointly submit to the Congress, by February 1, 1996, a report setting forth the notional plans which examine the potential transfer to the Department of Defense or an independent establishment of responsibility for the national security programs of DOE. Provides the various DOE organizations to be included in any such transfer, as well as other matters to be included in the plans. Requires each Secretary to ensure that the current mission and functioning of DOE national security programs would not be adversely affected during any transfer of responsibility. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Requires the Office of Military Applications under the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs to retain responsibility for DOE's Defense Programs Emergency Response Program. (Sec. 3162) Provides the requirements for DOE weapons activities budgets for fiscal years after 1996. (Sec. 3163) Directs the Secretary to take appropriate actions to maintain the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile in complete readiness for use. (Sec. 3164) Directs the President to submit to the congressional defense committees a report on any presidential plans to purchase tritium from foreign suppliers for nuclear weapons stockpile purposes. (Sec. 3165) Requires the Secretary to direct the joint preparation by the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories of a report on permitting alternative limits to limits on the explosive yield of hydronuclear tests. Provides funding. (Sec. 3166) Directs the President to report to the Congress a master plan on current and future warheads in the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile. (Sec. 3167) Prohibits the Secretary from allowing an international inspection of a nuclear weapons facility until: (1) the Secretary certifies to the Congress that no restricted data or classified information will be revealed during such inspection; and (2) 30 days have elapsed since such certification. Title XXXII: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Title XXXIII: Naval Petroleum Reserves - Directs the Secretary to sell all U.S. rights and interest to lands inside Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 1 (Elk Hills unit), Kern County, California. Directs the Secretary, within three months after the effective date of this Act, to finalize the equity interests of the known oil and gas zones in the Elk Hills unit after following the recommendations of an independent petroleum engineer or using other appropriate methods. Provides time limits and administrative procedures for such sale. Directs the United States to hold harmless and indemnify the purchaser of the Elk Hills unit from any liability resulting from its former ownership by the United States. Reserves seven percent of the sale proceeds from the Elk Hills unit for the resolution of all claims against the United States by California with respect to the production of, and proceeds of petroleum sales from, the Elk Hills unit. Requires the continued full production of the Elk Hills unit until completion of the sale. Provides transition provisions with respect to current petroleum contracts at Elk Hills. Prohibits the Secretary from entering into a contract for the sale of the Elk Hills unit until 31 days after notifying the defense committees of the proposed sale. Provides that, if the Secretary receives only one offer for the sale of Elk Hills, then the Secretary may not enter into a sale contract unless: (1) the Secretary notifies the Congress that only one offer was received, together with the offeror's conditions; and (2) a joint resolution approving such sale is enacted within 45 days after such notification. Provides joint resolution procedures. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the sale of the Elk Hills unit. (Sec. 3302) Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the most cost-effective option of operating the naval petroleum reserve units other than Elk Hills.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 159 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1995
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) tobacco use among children and teenagers has been shown to lead to addiction, disease, and premature death; (2) increased Federal excise taxes on tobacco products will serve to reduce such use; and (3) revenues from such tax increases should be used in part to help finance Federal health programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 2202 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Deterrence of Illegal Immigration Through Improved Border Enforcement, Pilot Programs, and Interior Enforcement Subtitle A: Improved Enforcement at Border Subtitle B: Pilot Programs Subtitle C: Interior Enforcement Title II: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling; Document Fraud Subtitle A: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling Subtitle B: Deterrence of Document Fraud Subtitle C: Asset Forfeiture for Passport and Visa Offenses Title III: Inspection, Apprehension, Detention, Adjudication, and Removal of Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens Subtitle A: Revision of Procedures for Removal of Aliens Subtitle B: Removal of Alien Terrorists Subtitle C: Deterring Transportation of Unlawful Aliens to the United States Subtitle D: Additional Provisions Title IV: Enforcement of Restrictions Against Employment Title V: Reform of Legal Immigration System Subtitle A: Worldwide Numerical Limits Subtitle B: Changes in Preference System Subtitle C: Refugees, Asylees, Parole, and Humanitarian Admissions Subtitle D: General Effective Date; Transition Provisions Title VI: Restrictions on Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility of Illegal Aliens for Public Benefits Subtitle B: Expansion of Disqualification from Immigration Benefits on the Basis of Public Charge Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Title VII: Facilitation of Legal Entry Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 - Title I: Deterrence of Illegal Immigration Through Improved Border Enforcement, Pilot Programs, and Interior Enforcement - Subtitle A: Improved Border Enforcement - Increases: (1) the Border Patrol; and (2) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) border enforcement and related personnel. (Sec. 102) Provides for barrier and road improvements at U.S. border areas of high illegal entry, including San Diego, California. Authorizes appropriations for San Diego area improvements. (Sec. 103) Provides for improved border equipment and technology. (Sec. 104) Provides for biometric identifiers to be included in border crossing identification cards. (Sec. 105) Establishes civil penalties for illegal U.S. entry. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations for detention and prosecution of aliens who have unlawfully entered the United States at least twice. (Sec. 107) Provides for inservice Border Patrol training. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Pilot Programs - Establishes pilot programs for: (1) deterrence of multiple unauthorized U.S. entries, which may include interior or third party repatriation; (2) use of closed military bases as INS detention centers; and (3) collection of alien departure records. Subtitle C: Interior Enforcement - Provides for increased INS interior investigative and enforcement personnel. Title II: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling; Document Fraud - Subtitle A: Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties Against Alien Smuggling - Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) authorize wiretaps in alien smuggling investigations; and (2) include alien smuggling within racketeering offenses. (Sec. 203) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to revise and increase criminal penalties for alien smuggling. (Sec. 204) Increases the number of Assistant United States Attorneys and provides for their assignment to criminal matters involving illegal aliens. (Sec. 205) Authorizes and provides for INS undercover investigations. Subtitle B: Deterrence of Document Fraud - Amends Federal criminal law and the Act to increase and establish criminal and civil penalties for specified immigration related document fraud offenses, including false citizenship claims. Subtitle C: Asset Forfeiture for Passport and Visa Offenses - Amends Federal criminal law to provide for asset forfeiture for passport and visa offenses. Title III: Inspection, Apprehension, Detention, Adjudication, and Removal of Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens - Subtitle A: Revision of Procedures for Removal of Aliens - Amends the Act to revise alien removal and penalty provisions. (Sec. 309) Sets forth transition provisions with respect to: (1) the Attorney General's option to apply current or revised procedures; (2) judicial review; (3) suspension of deportation; and (4) certain family unity aliens. Subtitle B: Removal of Alien Terrorists - Part 1: Removal Procedures for Alien Terrorists - Amends the Act to establish a special removal procedure for alien terrorists, including establishment of a special removal court and a panel of special attorneys with access to classified information. (Sec. 322) Authorizes additional appropriations for INS detention and removal of alien terrorists. Part 2: Inadmissibility and Denial of Relief for Alien Terrorists - Amends the Act to make membership in a terrorist organization grounds for U.S. exclusion. (Sec. 332) Denies alien terrorists status adjustment and deportation relief. Subtitle C: Deterring Transportation of Unlawful Aliens to the United States - Amends the Act with regard to vessel and aircraft transportation of illegal aliens into the United States. Subtitle D: Additional Provisions - Authorizes Federal retirees to be used in the Institutional Hearing Program. (Sec. 358) Authorizes additional appropriations to the Attorney General for removing inadmissible or deportable aliens. (Sec. 359) Establishes in the Treasury an Immigration Enforcement Account. (Sec. 360) Declares that Congress advises the President to negotiate prisoner transfer treaties, which may include compensation provisions. (Sec. 361) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to direct INS to operate a criminal alien identification system. (Sec 363) Authorizes special registration of aliens on criminal probation or parole. Title IV: Enforcement of Restrictions Against Employment - Increases full-time employee positions in: (1) the Investigations Division of INS; and (2) the Wage and Hour Division of the Employment Standards Administration of the Department of Labor. (Sec. 403) Amends the Act to revise the employer sanctions program. Provides for an employment eligibility confirmation mechanism. Title V: Reform of Legal Immigration System - Amends the Act to restructure current legal immigration categories and levels into the following: (1) family-sponsored immigrants; (2) employment-based immigrants; and (3) humanitarian immigrants. Subtitle A: Worldwide Numerical Limits - Amends the Act to establish fiscal year worldwide limits for such immigrant categories. (Sec. 504) Requires periodic congressional review and reauthorization of worldwide immigration levels. Subtitle B: Changes in Preference System - Amends the Act to limit immediate relatives to spouses and children of U.S. citizens. (Sec. 512) Limits preference allocation for family-sponsored immigrants to: (1) spouses and children of lawful permanent resident aliens; and (2) qualifying parents of U.S. citizens. Requires parents to have adequate health coverage. (Sec. 513) Revises preference allocations for employment-based immigrants. Establishes: (1) a pilot program for smaller alien job creation investors; and (2) conditional permanent resident status for certain foreign language teachers. (Sec. 515) Revises special immigrant status provisions, including: (1) inclusion of certain NATO civilian employees; and (2) extension of status for religious workers. (Sec. 517) Makes specified family and employment-based amendments. Subtitle C: Refugees, Asylees, Parole, and Humanitarian Admissions - Amends the Act to limit annual refugee admissions to 75,000 in FY 1997 or 50,000 in succeeding years unless the Congress provides for additional entries. (Sec. 523) Authorizes the temporary employment of certain retirees to help reduce asylum application backlogs. (Sec. 524) Limits parole entry to a case-by-case basis for humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons. (Sec. 525) Provides for the admission of humanitarian immigrants. (Sec. 526) Revises asylum provisions. Subtitle D: General Effective Date; Transition Provisions - Sets forth transition provisions for specified classification status petitions. Title VI: Restrictions on Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility of Illegal Aliens for Public Benefits - Part 1: Public Benefits Generally - Makes illegal aliens ineligible for unemployment benefits and Federal and State assistance, contracts, and licenses, with exceptions for emergency medical services, public health immunizations, and short-term emergency disaster relief. Requires proof of identify for Federal contracts, grants, loans, licenses, and specified public assistance programs. Authorizes States to establish similar requirements. (Sec. 605) Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report on the disqualification of illegal aliens from housing assistance programs. Part 2: Earned Income Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the earned income tax credit to individuals not authorized to work in the United States. Subtitle B: Expansion of Disqualification from Immigration Benefits on the Basis of Public Charge - Amends the Act to revise public charge grounds for inadmissibility and deportability. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Attributes a sponsor's income and resources to a family-sponsored immigrant for purposes of eligibility for Federal means-tested public benefits programs. (Sec. 632) Amends the Act to set forth sponsor affidavit of support requirements. Title VII: Facilitation of Legal Entry - Provides for: (1) increased numbers of land border inspectors; and (2) border infrastructure improvements. (Sec. 703) Amends the Act to provide for: (1) preinspection at specified foreign airports; and (2) training of airline personnel in fraudulent document detection. Establishes a carrier consultant program. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Act, as amended by the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to revise the definition of "aggravated felony." Amends the Act with regard to: (1) definitions of "child" and "parent"; (2) visa processing procedure; (3) waiver authority concerning notice of visa application denial; (4) Canadian landed immigrants; (5) H-1B nonimmigrants; (6) visa extensions; (7) status adjustment; (8) access to certain confidential INS files; (9) nonimmigrant status for spouses and children of members of the armed forces; (10) fraudulent birth certificates; (11) visa "shopping"; and (12) specified miscellaneous and technical provisions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2233 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Financial Amendments Title II: Benefit Amendments Title III: Administrative Simplification Amendments Title IV: Debt Collection Amendments Title V: Penalty Amendments Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Amendments Act of 1995 - Title I: Financial Amendments - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require disclosure of information about certain taxes to the Railroad Retirement Board for its administration of the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. (Sec. 102) Amends Federal law to require that the proceeds of checks drawn on accounts established under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts, which have been uncashed and canceled by the Secretary, be reaccredited to such accounts. Title II: Benefit Amendments - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to revise provisions for the assignability of railroad retirement annuities treated as community property for purposes of, or property subject to, distribution in accordance with a court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation or court-approved property settlement. (Sec. 202) Declares that the Board, as a condition for either the receipt of an annuity or to be included in the computation of an annuity under this Act, shall require an individual to furnish satisfactory proof of a Social Security account number. (Sec. 203) Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to repeal the employee entitlement to supplemental unemployment benefits in certain circumstances. Title III: Administrative Simplification Amendments - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to authorize the expenditure out of the Railroad Retirement Account, the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Account, the Social Security Equivalent Benefit Account, and the railroad unemployment insurance account of such sums as the Congress may deem appropriate to pay the costs of administration of such Acts. Abolishes the railroad unemployment insurance administration fund. (Sec. 302) Establishes within the Railroad Retirement Account a Continuing Disability Review Account. Requires the Board to use funds from the Account to carry out continuing disability reviews. Title IV: Debt Collection Amendments - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to revise provisions regarding the Board's recovery of overpayment or erroneous payment of retirement or unemployment insurance benefits. Title V: Penalty Amendments - Increases the criminal penalties for persons who fail to furnish, or who provide fraudulent, information to the Board. (Sec. 502) Amends Federal law to require any penalty or assessment imposed by the Board with respect to claims to retirement or unemployment insurance benefits to be deposited in the Railroad Retirement Account and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account, respectively.
Bill· HRH.R. 2234 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Debt Collection Initiatives Title II: Justice Debt Management Title III: IRS Levy Authority Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1995 - Title I: General Debt Collection Initiatives - Amends Federal claims and civil service law, revising general administrative, salary, and tax refund offset authorities, and making changes as well under the Debt Collection Act of 1982, Social Security Domestic Employment Reform Act of 1994, and other specified Acts. Includes among such revisions and changes: (1) making the House of Representatives a legislative agency for purposes relating to claims of or against the Federal Government; (2) providing agencies with the authority to require the taxpayer identification numbers of the persons doing business with them; (3) expanding various specified collection and offset authorities and Governmentwide cross- servicing; (4) barring delinquent Federal debtors from obtaining Federal loans or loan guarantees; (5) adjusting Federal civil monetary penalties for inflation; and (6) establishing in the Treasury the Debt Collection Improvement Account to reimburse agencies for expenditures for the improvement of tax administration and agency debt collection and debt recovery activities. (Sec. 203) Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to exempt from computer matching requirements matches for administrative offset or claims collection or any other payment intercept or offset program authorized by statute. (Sec. 1001) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) establish guidelines to assist agencies in the performance and monitoring of debt collection activities; and (2) consolidate all reports concerning debt collection into one annual report. Requires the Secretary to: (1) report to the Congress on debt collection services; and (2) prescribe regulations requiring certain agency reports on loans and accounts receivable managed by the head of the agency. Title II: Justice Debt Management - Repeals specified provisions of Federal law to provide for expanded use of private attorneys in Federal debt collection efforts. (Sec. 1201) Amends the Federal judicial code to provide for nonjudicial foreclosure of mortgages. Title III: IRS Levy Authority - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a continuing levy on non-means tested Federal payments, modify the levy exemption under such Code, and provide for the disclosure of return information to the Financial Management Service in levies with respect to any applicable government payment.
Bill· HRH.R. 2197 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations for all or a part of a fiscal year unless it provides that the amount which would be available or the authority which would be granted respecting any pertinent project or activity (except appropriated mandatory spending) shall be continued at a rate of operations not exceeding the lower of: (1) 95 percent of the current rate; or (2) if the applicable regular appropriations Act has passed both Houses, then the lowest rate permitted by either version of that Act, except that if the project or activity is funded in only one such version, that project or activity shall be continued under the authority granted by the one House.
Bill· HRH.R. 2220 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments of Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Subtitle A: Medical Care Savings Accounts Subtitle B: Expansion of COBRA Continuation Coverage Title II: Insurance Reform Subtitle A: Employer Insurance Protections Subtitle B: Guaranteeing Portability of Health Insurance for Individuals Subtitle C: Assuring Health Insurance Coverage for Uninsurable Individuals Health Insurance Portability and Guaranteed Renewability Act of 1995 - Title I: Amendments of Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Subtitle A: Medical Care Savings Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for medical care savings benefits, under which a portion of a premium would be credited to a participating employee to pay for medical care and amounts remaining (if any) at the end of the year would be deposited to a medical care savings account (medical IRA). (Sec. 102) Defines a "medical care savings account" (MCSA) as a trust for the exclusive benefit of an individual and the individual's spouse and dependents and meeting certain requirements. Provides for the tax treatment of such accounts and their distributions. Treats custodial accounts as a trust if specified criteria are met. Amends various provisions of the IRC (relating to old-age, survivors, and disability insurance, hospital insurance, railroad retirement, unemployment taxes, and withholding) and the Social Security Act (relating to old-age, survivors, and disability insurance) to exclude from the definition of "wages" (or, in the case of provisions relating to railroad retirement, the definition of "compensation") any payment to or for the benefit of an employee if the payment is excludable from gross income. Amends the IRC to exempt MCSAs from provisions imposing a tax on certain prohibited transactions. Imposes a penalty for failure to file required report on a MCSA. (Sec. 103) Allows cafeteria plan flexible spending arrangements to be contributed to a MCSA. Subtitle B: Expansion of COBRA Continuation Coverage - Amends the IRC and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exempt group health plans maintained by employers who all employ fewer than two (currently, 20) employees from continuation coverage requirements. Modifies requirements regarding the maximum required coverage period. Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to exempt group health plans maintained by employers who all employ fewer than four (currently, 20) employees from continuation coverage requirements. Modifies requirements regarding the maximum required coverage period. (Sec. 112) Amends the IRC, ERISA, and the PHSA to revise the type of continuation coverage required and general requirements for group health plan continuation coverage. Title II: Insurance Reform - Subtitle A: Employer Insurance Protections - Prohibits any health benefit insurer providing or offering a small group health plan from cancelling or not renewing except for specified reasons or refusing to provide coverage based solely on the nature of the employer's business or industry. Limits premium rate increases and variation (across and within business classes) in index rates. Allows an insurer to use industry as a case characteristic in establishing rates. (Sec. 202) Restricts preexisting condition limitations or exclusions. Requires insurers offering coverage to a small employer to offer coverage to all eligible employees of the small employer and their dependents. (Sec. 203) Amends the IRC to impose a penalty on the failure of an insurer or group health plan to meet the requirements of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Guaranteeing Portability of Health Insurance for Individuals - Declares that this subtitle applies only to health benefit plans delivered or issued to individuals in a State and does not apply to: (1) any employer-based plan; or (2) any eligible individual whose prior similar plan was provided by a State high risk pool, under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, or under another State or Federal program (unless the individual was previously covered as a State or Federal employee). (Sec. 212) Requires an insurer, if an eligible individual or family applies for an individual plan, to either offer or deny coverage to all eligible individuals applying on the application. Regulates preexisting condition exclusions or limitations. Requires an insurer to offer, to a dependent who would otherwise lose eligibility because of certain events, continuation coverage identical to that previously issued. (Sec. 213) Regulates plan cancellation or nonrenewal. Subtitle C: Assuring Health Insurance Coverage for Uninsurable Individuals - Requires each health insurer, health service organization, and health maintenance organization to participate in a high risk health insurance pool in the State in which it operates. Requires that the pool assure the availability of qualified health insurance to uninsurable individuals. Funds the pool by an assessment against such entities on a pro rata basis of lives covered in the State. Allows the assessment to be added by those entities to the costs of their health insurance or coverage. (Sec. 222) Outlines criteria for being considered: (1) uninsurable; and (2) eligible. (Sec. 224) Limits premiums established under the pool.
Bill· HRH.R. 2224 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to exempt disability and survivor annuities from provisions delaying the cost-of-living adjustment in Federal employee retirement benefits during FY 1996.
Bill· HRH.R. 2239 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Mixed-Blood Ute Indian Tax Status Act - Amends Federal law to exempt from Federal or State tax the distribution of rents and royalties from U.S. trust held real estate or related oil, gas, or mineral interests paid to mixed-blood members of the Ute Tribe, or their Ute heirs or legatees. Exempts the Ute Distribution Corporation from Federal and State corporate income taxes.
Bill· HRH.R. 2232 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a cooperative organization to elect to apportion pro rata any portion of the small ethanol producer credit among patrons on the basis of the quantity or value of business done with or for the patrons for the taxable year. Provides for the treatment of the organization and the patrons.
Bill· HRH.R. 2236 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Tax Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for regional cost-of-living adjustments in individual income tax rates.
Bill· HRH.R. 2225 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Choice in Welfare Tax Credit Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax credit of up to $100 ($200 for a joint return) of the value of certain charitable contributions to any tax-exempt, U.S. organization that spends at least 70 percent of aggregate expenditures assisting the poor. Requires that: (1) taxpayers identify each such contribution and the recipient on the individual's tax return; and (2) such charities provide copies of their annual return to such individuals upon request.
Bill· HRH.R. 2221 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income qualified separation payments transferred to individual retirement accounts. Describes such payments as qualified if: (1) such payments were voluntarily paid by the employer on account of separation before attainment of normal retirement age; and (2) such separation was in connection with a substantial reduction in the employer's work force.
Bill· HRH.R. 2246 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
United States Library Trust Fund Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer to designate that one dollar of any tax overpayment and any cash contribution shall be paid to the United States Library Trust Fund. Establishes the Fund. Provides for grants to applying public libraries and public school libraries, to be used to purchase materials for the libraries, with the grantees selected by the Office of Library Services.
Bill· HRH.R. 2201 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Insurance Broker Foreign Source Income Clarification Act of 1994 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that in the case of any controlled foreign corporation passive income does not include any income derived from insurance brokerage or agency services. Declares that income earned on fiduciary funds held by an insurance agent or broker shall not be passive income and such funds shall be treated as having a tax basis equal to their original purchase price.
Bill· HRH.R. 2208 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the use of the percentage of completion method of accounting is not required with respect to contracts for the manufacture of property if no payments are required to be made before the completion of the manufacture of such property.
Bill· HRH.R. 2199 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Equine Tax Fairness Act of 1995- Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions limiting passive activity losses and credits to modify the definition of material participation with respect to the treatment of equine activities (breeding, racing, or showing horses).
Bill· HRH.R. 2218 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Farmland Preservation Act of 1995 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate tax the value of land subject to a qualified conservation easement (less the amount of any indebtedness secured by such land). Includes in the gross estate tax the value of each development right retained by the donor in the conveyance of the easement. Makes such tax due upon the disposition of the property. Provides that such land subject to the exclusion will have a carryover basis for purposes of determining gain or loss. Excludes from the gift tax transfers by gift of land subject to a conservation easement. Declares that for purposes of the alternative estate valuation method: (1) a qualified conservation contribution is not a disposition; and (2) land subject to a conservation easement is not disqualified.
Bill· HRH.R. 2193 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to mortgage revenue bonds to modify the requirements to be a qualified veteran. Establishes State subcap and State overall cap restrictions.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 212 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1995
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Speaker of the House should move to appoint conferees on S. 4 (granting the President legislative line item veto rescission authority) immediately so that the House and Senate may resolve their differences on this important legislation; and (2) no conference report on any appropriation bill or the reconciliation bill required by H. Con. Res. 67 (congressional budget for FY 1996 through 2002) should be considered by the House unless such conference report makes the provisions of S. 4, as passed by the House, applicable to that bill, or Congress has considered the conference report on S. 4.